Running start
The Ronan and Mission cross country teams take off at the start of the Ronan Invitational last Saturday in Pablo.
The Arlee cross country team takes off during the Ronan CC Invitational last Saturday in Pablo.
Ronan junior Ashley Grandchamp was the top finisher for the Ronan girls last Saturday.
Arlee senior Jesse Pfau focuses on the course in front of him.
Sophomore Paden Alexander makes a great finish for the Mission Cross Country Team.
Area’s best runners take to the course at Silver Fox Golf Course
for the Ronan Cross Country Invitational
RONAN
Just under fifty seconds separated the first five Ronan runners last weekend in their home invitational, while head coach Gale Decker would like his team to close the gap between them and the other two contenders in the conference.
"We ran well, just not enough to catch Columbia Falls and Whitefish," Decker said.
In a meet that saw AA teams Hellgate and Flathead participate, the Chiefs were led by senior Justin Dusty Bull who finished 27th (18:00).
"It adds a lot more kids," Decker said. "We also had the opportunity to run against the best in the state. It's a huge step up in competition for all our kids. It doesn't intimidate them."
On the girls side, junior Ashley Grandchamp finished 25th (21:58) to lead the Maidens.
"She's been in the 21's pretty consistently," Decker said. "That's a good sign for her."
Ronan will be at the Hamilton Invitational next Saturday.
ARLEE
With some runners out, Arlee cross country coach Katea Dreiling plugged in some of her younger runners and saw some pleasant results.
"I don't think they realize they're improving as much as they are," Dreiling said. "The work they've been putting in is making the three miles easier. We just need to get their heads into it."
Senior Jessie Pfau finished 40th with a time of 18:39 and Dreiling said she would like to see her top-five boys all finish at least within 19 minutes.
"Our boys team wasn't as close as it should have been," Dreiling. "We still had a lot of personal records."
Arlee will compete at the Thompson Falls Invitational next weekend.
"Thompson Falls is usually a fast course for my runners," Dreiling said.
MISSION
Sophomore Paden Alexander runs in the morning with his cross country team and then follows that up with a hard bike ride in the afternoon.
"He's getting stronger everyday," Mission cross country head coach Patrick Murphy said. "He's got the fire. He's really motivated."
Alexander broke the 18-minute mark last Saturday in the Ronan Invitational at the Silver Fox Golf Course in Pablo, placing 21st (17:25).
"Those mental barriers are the toughest for runners to break," Murphy, who wants Alexander to now focus on the 17-minute barrier, said.
His finish was the second highest finish for an athlete from a Class B school.
"I think he's going to do really well in state," Murphy said.
Junior Ashley Courville had an impressive finish for the girls, placing 20th (21:28) and was the second-best Class B school finisher in the meet.
"Right now, she's consistently 21-something," Murphy said. "I think she's ready to get beyond that."
Several runners finished with personal records on the weekend.
"I think we're progressing exactly how we need to every week," Murphy said. "As a team, if we can close some of our gaps, which I'm sure we will, that will put us in a good spot."'
Mission will head to the Hamilton Invitational next Saturday.
Varsity Girls Results
20. Ashley Courville - Mission - 21:28
25. Ashley Grandchamp - Ronan - 21:58
31. Rose Bear Don’t Walk - Mission - 22:49
34. Jade Grey - Ronan- 24:01
35. LaGlenn Mitchell - Mission - 24:09
37. Rachel Hardy - Ronan - 24:38
38. Kiana Howell - Ronan - 26:07
39. Robyn Mitchell - St. Ignatius - 27:20
42. Christen Falcon - Ronan - 28:05
Varsity Boys Results
21. Paden Alexander - Mission - 17:25
27. Justin Dusty Bull - Ronan - 18:00
30. Cody Johnson - Ronan -18:04
32. Kevin Wroblewski - Ronan -18:09
33. Brady Oakland - Ronan -18:09
40. Jesse Pfau - Arlee - 18:39
41. Jordan Franklin - Ronan - 18:47
43. Bryan Schock Mission - 18:54
45. Danny Romero - Ronan -18:59
49. Robbie Hocker - Ronan -19:43
52. Trae Burland - Arlee - 20:06
54. Mauro Grosso - Mission - 20:20
55. Xavier Streets - Mission - 21:41
56. Dominic Burland - Arlee - 21: 41
58. Dakota Matt - Mission - 22:22
60. Karl Daniels - Mission - 23:10
61. Rune Grumsen - Mission - 23:13
62. Jordan Keltner - Arlee - 24:26
63. Zane Ligas - Arlee - 24:51
64. Tae Hamm - Arlee - 29:30
Ronan Cross Country Invitational Results JV Girls
PLACE ATHLETE SCHOOL TIME
1 Clarke, Lily Hellgate 20.33
2 Tritz, Teri Hellgate 21.55
3 Ruby, Ellen Hellgate 22.01
4 Williams, Riley Hellgate 22.15
5 Grigsby, Josie Hellgate 22.20
6 Bucher, Gretchen Hellgate 22.20
7 Saunderson, Adriana Flathead 22.31
8 Wolf, Mckala Hellgate 22.48
9 Benner, LaKayla Col Falls 23.20
10 Hovenkotter, Hallie Polson 23.21
11 Barta, Laura Polson 23.23
12 Marchetti, Emma Whitefish 23.25
13 Campbell, Alexis Flathead 23.30
14 Chmielewski, Susanna Flathead 23.39
15 Cree, Chelsey Polson 23.42
16 Snyder, Ceara Polson 23.42
17 Asaro, Giuliana Hellgate 24.04
18 Birky, Alyssa Col Falls 24.04
19 Bauer, Casey Col Falls 24.10
20 Bowman, Taurie Polson 24.27
21 Kammerzell, Taylor Flathead 24.37
22 Young, Kristin Polson 24.41
23 Tamburelli, Angie Col Falls 24.53
24 Birk, Nicole Whitefish 24.59
25 Howlett, Dani Polson 25.01
26 Dufflocq, Michelle Hellgate 25.02
27 Bass, Lowry Hellgate 25.03
28 McGowan, Dom Polson 25.04
29 Eason, Samantha Whitefish 25.15
30 Brunz, Dezi Col Falls 25.22
31 Gray, Kaylee Col Falls 25.29
32 Andenoro, Kathryn Flathead 25.40
33 Sugden, Laurel Flathead 25.40
34 Pace, Madeline Hellgate 25.43
35 McDaniel, LE Col Falls 25.52
36 Griffin, Carissa Polson 26.50
37 North Piegan, Angela Ronan 26.59
38 Hurd, Elizabeth Hellgate 28.01
39 Clairmont, Raymi Ronan 28.13
40 Birk, Lilly Whitefish 28.54
41 Gill, Teija Plains 29.02
42 Dugdale, Justine Whitefish 29.04
43 Emilee Ronan 29.05
44 Stow, Gaby Flathead 29.21
45 Turco, Laura Whitefish 29.44
46 Griffith, Becky Col Falls 32.18
47 Lindgrin, Kari Libby 32.37
48 Ribeiro, Nicole T Falls 33.41
JV BOYS
1 Kornish, Josh Hellgate 16.38
2 Sullivan, Mac Hellgate 17.27
3 Szekely, John Hellgate 17.32
4 Steller, Brock Flathead 17.33
5 Kosinski Flathead 17.43
6 Wills, Keenan Flathead 17.44
7 Patyk, Eric Flathead 17.51
8 Arnold, Jonah Hellgate 17.57
9 Martin, Tylor Hellgate 18.01
10 Mayer, Anthony Hellgate 18.07
11 Skiftun, Conner Hellgate 18.20
12 Stuben, Jake Flathead 18.44
13 Meixner, Cody Hellgate 18.45
14 Lerch, Craig Hellgate 18.45
15 Ruud, Gavin Flathead 18.46
16 McCall, Seth Col Falls 18.47
17 Brock, Tanner Whitefish 18.58
18 Boveng, Karl Flathead 18.59
19 Taylor, Elias Whitefish 19.01
20 Hale, Spencer Whitefish 19.05
21 Miosga, Kevin-Miles Polson 19.09
22 Holt, Henry Whitefish 19.16
23 Dupuis, Edmond Ronan 19.19
24 Malmquist, Eric Ronan 19.24
25 Manzanarez, Thomas Hellgate 19.30
26 Mauer, Zach Hellgate 19.31
27 Goldsby, Dustin Ronan 19.39
28 Van Luven, Ross Flathead 19.43
29 Province, Travis Col Falls 19.46
30 Knox , Caleb Whitefish 19.46
31 Roberts, Waylon Whitefish 19.54
32 Henson, Thomas Whitefish 19.57
33 Graham, Baxter Whitefish 20.01
34 Haverkorn, Josh Col Falls 20.11
35 Thole, Lane Bigfork 20.17
36 Howlett, Cade Polson 20.25
37 Byrne, Jacob Flathead 20.37
38 Cook, Dan Hellgate 20.44
39 Barrick, Cody Libby 20.49
40 Blumhardt, Zach Whitefish 20.50
41 Payne, James Hellgate 20.52
42 Sisler, Cash Polson 20.57
43 McNair, Jaden Ronan 21.01
44 Cole, Sam Hellgate 21.03
45 Probst, JT Ronan 21.07
46 Burgess, Ben Col Falls 21.12
47 Damschen, David Plains 21.31
48 Plant, Jarrod Polson 21.37
49 Hayden, Eaton Whitefish 21.57
50 Nelson, Jesse Libby 21.59
51 Tanner, Marley Ronan 22.03
52 Sagmiller, Dylan Ronan 22.18
53 Waschle, Niclas Col Falls 22.20
54 Jones, Armel Ronan 22.29
55 Parmenter, Jacob Bigfork 22.40
56 Hader, Cole Col Falls 22.47
57 Sanchez, Jose Guillermo Whitefish 22.55
58 Anschuetz, Gavin Hellgate 23.06
59 Rogers, Nate Ronan 23.07
60 Rasmussen, Aaron Polson 23.31
61 Neller, Tyler Libby 23.35
62 Jacobs, Jon Whitefish 23.59
63 Stipe, Kristian Whitefish 24.21
64 Damschen, Daniel Plains 24.22
65 Mueller, Jesse Bigfork 25.11
66 Rocha, Andre Flathead 25.11
67 Brennen, Cain Whitefish 29.01