Flathead sweeps Glacier Invitational; Hollman, Rumsey Eash win races

Juniors Bauer Hollman and Lilli Rumsey Eash were individual champions, and led Flathead to the team sweep of the Glacier Invitational cross country meet Wednesday at Rebecca Farm.

In what stands for the crosstown meet — five boys teams competed along with four girls squads — Flathead finished well ahead of Glacier’s boys and girls.

“We had a good day,” Flathead coach Jesse Rumsey said. “It’s not our fastest race, but our kids stepped up as a team and I couldn’t ask for much more than that at this point of the season.”

Hollman won the boys race in 17 minutes, 13.4 seconds, and led a 1-2-4-5-10 finish for the Braves, who won with 22 points. Glacier was next at 56.

Reilly Johnson was second at 17:22.19, while Ethan Bay and Kasen Kastner were fourth and fifth in what stands for the Crosstown meet with Glacier. Flathead coach Jesse Rumsey singled out Johnson.

“He’s a senior and ran his season’s best today,” Rumsey said. “I really feel like he just leaned into racing Rebecca Farm for the last time. He has been running since seventh grade, and so he got really after it today. I am super proud of him.”

The Wolfpack, with Owen Thiel in sixth at 17:40.18, took second with 56 points. Five boys teams competed and four for the girls, including Kalispell’s Heritage Academy.

Rumsey Eash clocked 19:31.81 to win the girls race and lead a 1-2-3 Bravettes finish along with Madelaine Jellison (20:14.44) and freshman Lindy Porter (20:56.90).

Jellison is another senior leader for Flathead.

“She’s done four years of running,” Rumsey said. “She went out fast and hard and maintained her pace. She became a steady runner.”

Bailey Wride and Josie Wilson finished sixth and seventh for Flathead, which had a miniscule 19 points. Glacier was second at 47, with Alyssa Vollerston (21:12.68) and Anna Tretter finishing 4-5.

Heritage Academy saw Gabriel Ochienrider take eighth in the boys race and Caeli Soss place eighth among the girls.

Complete results can be found at athletic.net.

This is the last meet for Flathead and Glacier before the State AA cross country championships, at the University of Montana golf course in Missoula on Oct. 22.

BOYS

Team scores — 1, Flathead 22; 2, Glacier 56; 3, Cut Bank 76; 4, Heritage Academy 92; 5, Heart Butte 125.

Individual Top 15

1, Bauer Hollman, Flathead, 17:13.4; 2, Reilly Johnson, Flathead, 17:22.19; 3, James Greene, Cut Bank, 17:30.94; 4, Ethan Bay, Flathead, 17:35.21; 5, Kasen Kastner, Flathead, 17:37.86; 6, Owen Thiel, Glacier, 17:40.18; 7, Elijah Greene, Cut Bank, 18:22.61; 8, Gabriel Ochienrider, Heritage, 18:28.68; 9, Jeff Lillard, Glacier, 18:34.32; 10, Mitchell Johnson, Flathead, 18:35.05; 11, MacGregor Adkins, Glacier 18:35.76; 12, Chance Bremner, Heart Butte, 18:53.63; 13, Jack Syverson, Glacier, 18:54.09; 14, Ryker Zuffelato, Flathead, 18:54.55; 15, Brogan Lancaster, Heritage, 19:20.77.

GIRLS

Team scores — 1, Flathead 19; 2, Glacier 47; 3, Heritage Academy 90; 4, Cut BAnk 95.

Individual Top 15

1, Lilli Rumsey Eash, Flathead, 19:31.81; 2, Madelaine Jellison, Flathead, 20:14.44; 3, Lindy Porter, Flathead, 20:56.80; 4, Alyssa Vollersten, Glacier, 21:12.68; 5, Anna Tretter, Glacier, 21:19.34; 6, Bailey Wride, Flathead, 21:36.02; 7, Josie Wilson, Flathead, 21:44.11; 8, Caeli Soss, Heritage, 22:03.73; 9, Afton Wride, Flathead, 22:05.79; 10, Tiara Howard, Glacier, 22:41.86; 11, Moriah Turner, Heritage, 22:48.64; 12, Annabeth Henke, Glacier, 22:51.37; 13, Mylee Barry, Cut BAnk, 23:35.04; 14, Sophia Ochienrider, Heritage, 23:55.85; 15, Mikaela Mayne, Flathead, 24:01.43.