Ronan cross country is top 'A' team at Libby Invite

LIBBY — Ronan cross country proved they can keep up with the best of them, with both boys and girls beating six teams to take second place only behind the AA Flathead Braves and placing first out of all the A teams at last weekend's Libby Invitational.

"They were good," said head coach Gale Decker of the Braves, "but I think we showed that we can run with any other team in Northwestern Montana."

Even without a designated fifth runner, the boys scored 95 team points, putting them ahead of Polson with 108 and Whitefish with 142.

Michael Fisher took fifth place with a time of 16:07, beating Flathead's Carl Nysteun by about 11 seconds.

"Fisher ran very well, four seconds faster than he did on the same course at the Conference Championships last fall," Decker said.

Andrew Graham came in 10th with 17:13 while Buddy Cheff took 14th with 17:50. Erick Stedje ran 18:03, beating a Eureka runner by five seconds and Seth Clary came in 49th place with 21:12.

"Andrew, Buddy and Erick also had good days, but we've got to shore up our number five runner," Decker said.

In her first cross country competition, Saddie McMillan took third behind Tara Kline of Flathead with a time of 20:07. Terinee McCready found herself in eighth place with 20:38 while Kaneesha Benson trailed closely behind taking ninth with 20:39.

"Benson ran very close to what she ran at the Conference Championships which will help put her under 20 minutes before too long," Decker said.

Briana Malmquist finished in 21st place with 21:57. Christa Salomon came in 28th place with 22:34 and Kelsey Salomon took 38th place with 23:47.

The girls took 69 points, beating Polson with 104 and Whitefish with 109.

"Our goal is to put four girls under 20 minutes this fall and I think we are on our way to doing that," Decker said.

This Saturday, Ronan goes to the Kalispell Invitational.