XC star Hewston commits to UGF

POLSON – Claudia Hewston is one of the most decorated cross-country runners in Polson High School history.

Next year, the four-time all-stater will attempt to build her legacy at the University of Great Falls, where the senior committed last week.

Hewston said Argonauts coach Bill Brist—previously the cross-country coach at Whitefish—influenced her decision.

“I’ve seen him as a coach and gotten a chance to see how he coaches,” Hewston said. “He’s very personal. He’s very connected to what his runners.”

Brist said Hewston will add depth to a promising lineup in 2014.

“She’s not going to have to carry all of the load when she first comes, but she’ll have the opportunity to be one of our top runners,” Brist said. He added that she may run some distance track events for the Argonauts as well.

Hewston’s commitment is encouraging for the Polson program as well, according to coach Matt Seeley.

“We haven’t had many runners continue competing at the highest level after high school, but she has the potential to perform very well,” Seeley said. “To her natural ability and competitiveness, Claudia adds the durability, determination, and inner strength that will serve her very well at the next level.”

Brist thinks Hewston will thrive at UGF in all aspects of the college experience.

“She’s really got the complete package in terms of what we look for in a runner,” he said, citing Hewston’s athleticism, dedication in the classroom and civic involvement.

The academic rigor of UGF was a big part of her decision-making process, Hewston said.

“I was looking for a smaller school,” she said. “I was never really sure how I would fit into a large-scale school. I really like one-on-one personal contact with a teacher.”

The university’s eccentric faculty helped hammer that point home. Hewston’s appointment with wildlife biology professor Nate Bickford included visits with a trained falcon and a one-eared rabbit, she said.

“It was just one of those bizarre things” that helped her realize the school was right for her.

Brist says Hewston will be a good addition to his growing base of in-state runners.

“Anytime we can get a Montana kid to stay in state, that’s good for the state,” Brist said. “That’s the way I look at it.”

In addition to a using locals as a future recruiting tool, he also hypothesized that local products are more likely to stay in the program for four years.

“There’s not as much of a change coming from the western side of the state than there is coming from Seattle.”

Polson coach Matt Seeley was also encouraged by Hewston’s decision to stay close to home.

“By running at a regional college, she will also continue to inspire her younger teammates as they consider similar opportunities,” he said. “Hopefully she is able to come back and share her experiences with the 2014 Pirate cross country team.”

For Hewston, though, it was more about feeling at home within the program. She said her visit reminded her of the Pirates’ team chemistry in her last four years.

“They were just hanging around playing video games and taking about where they went running,” she said. “…You could just tell that they liked running, and it was nice.”

Hewston said those memories of the Polson team will be what carries her through the rest of her running career.

“What attracted me to do cross country in high school is that it was like a second family,” she said. “You went through everything together no matter what. You all train the same way no matter what.”

So four more years with a new family can’t hurt, right?