Linton leads Whitefish boys to win; Rumsey Eash, Wildkats also victorious
WHITEFISH — Deneb Linton won the individual crown and led the Whitefish Bulldogs to the team title Tuesday, at the Whitefish Invitational cross country meet.
Flathead’s Lilli Rumsey Eash, like Linton a junior, won the girls race while Columbia Falls edged the Bravettes 33-42 for the team title.
Linton, who completed the course at Whitefish Lake Golf Course in 17 minutes, 21.68 seconds, led a 1-2-6-7-8 finish by the Bulldogs. It was Linton’s second win; he also finished first at the Libby Invitational in August.
Junior Mason Genovese (17:22.13) was a close second for Whitefish; Flathead’s Bauer Hollman was third at 17:34.89, and Hollman’s teammate Kasen Kastner was fifth. Then came Nate Ingelfinger, Ethan Amic and Ruedi Steiner for Whitefish.
The Bulldogs finished with 24 points, well ahead of Flathead (69) and Columbia Falls (76). Browning was fourth and Glacier was fifth.
Owen Thiel was Glacier’s top finisher, taking ninth.
Rumsey Eash completed her race in 20:12.59; Columbia Falls’ Siri Erickson was second in 20:29.86, and then Flathead’s Madelaine Jellison was third at 20;32.92.
The defending State A champion Wildkats also had Ally Sempf in fifth, and Marissa Schaeffer, Courtney Hoerner and Mya Badger finished 9-10-11.
Polson’s Ashtyn Wagner was fourth. Glacier’s Alyssa Vellersten and Anna Tretter took seventh and eighth, and the Wolfpack was third in the team race with 63 points, followed by Whitefish and Ronan.
Complete results can be found at athletic.net.
Glacier and Flathead have the Butte Invitational next, on Friday; the Libby Wilderness Run brings in Whitefish, Columbia Falls, Polson, Bigfork and Eureka Saturday.
Whitefish Invitational
Tuesday
BOYS
Team scores — 1, Whitefish 24; 2, Flathead 69; 3, Columbia Falls 76; 4, Browning 90; 5, Glacier 152; 6, Polson 153; 7, Cut Bank 179; 8, Eureka 188; 9, Ronan 222; 10, Libby.
Top 15 Individuals
1, Deneb Linton, Wfh, 17:21.68; 2, Mason Genovese, Wfh, 17:22.13; 3, Bauer Hollman, Fla, 17:34.89; 4, James Green, CB, 17:36.54; 5, Kasen Kastner, Fla, 17:38.49; 6, Nate Inglefinger, Wfh, 17:55.26; 7, Ethan Amick, Wfh, 17:55.59; 8, Ruedi Steiner, Wfh, 17:58.86; 9, Owen Thiel, Gla, 18:04.87; 10, Quinn Clark, CF, 18:25.24; 11, Jerdan Crawford, Brw, 18:29.59; 12, Lucas Peterson, CF, 18:29.87; 13, River Blazejewski, CF, 18:30.38; 14, Preston Iron Heart, Brw, 18:37.25; 15, Logan Peterson, CF, 18:37.26.
GIRLS
Team scores — 1, Columbia Falls 33; 2, Flathead 42; 3, Glacier 3; 4, Whitefish 127; 5, Ronan 158; 6, Browning 166; 7, Eureka 187; 8, Frenchtown 193; 9, Cut Bank 227; 10, Libby 267.
Top 15 Individuals
1, Lilli Rumsey Eash, Fla, 20:12.59; 2, Siri Erickson, CF, 20:29.86; 3, Madelaine Jellison, Fla, 20:32.92; 4, Ashtyn Wagner, Pol, 20:55.06; 5, Ally Sempf, CF, 21:22.43; 6, Olivia Heiner, Ron, 21:24.68; 7, Alyssai Vollerston, Gla, 21:26.97; 8, Anna Tretter, Gla, 21:30.12; 9, Marissa Schaeffer, CF, 21:35.07; 10, Courtney Hoerner, CF, 21:42.52; 11, Mya Badger, CF, 21:54.55; 12, Josie Wilson, Fla, 22:02.34; 13, Mikenna Conan, Fla, 22:09.69; 14, Ashley Anderws, CF, 22:10.08; 15, Bailey Gable, Gla, 22:15.30.