Mission Valley Prep Cross Country roundup

by John Heglie Special For Leader
| September 24, 2019 8:34 PM

Three different running events were on the slate for various cross-country teams within the county last week. The most widely attended was in Thompson Falls, where Ronan’s James Normandeau staved off a challenge by Frenchtown’s Tyler Schmautz to edge out a win at the finish line by a margin of less than three tenths of a second with both turning in sub-17s.

Both these runners compete in distance events during the spring track season, so it is not an uncommon occurrence when each tries to outstrategize the other at strategic junctures along the course. Ronan’s Brant Heiner turned in a sub-18. Sub-19 area runners included Ronan’s Michael Irvine, Mission’s Zoran LaFrombois and Isaiah Nasewytewa. A quintet of other area boys crossed the finish line with sub-20s.

Among area girls, Ronan’s Analeta YellowBird turned in the best time for a tenth place finish among the field.

Arlee also participated in the Great Falls Invitational later on in the week, while Polson teams competed in a stagger start against each other at the Kerr Dam Fields (times cited below).

Many area teams will compete in the Whitefish Invitation on Tuesday and then head to Missoula over the weekend for the big Mountain West meet.

2019 Thompson Falls Invitational

Rivers Bend GC

Tuesday, Sept 17

Boys

Team scores

Columbia Falls (CF) 39; Eureka 56; 3, Ronan (Ron) 69; Frenchtown (Fr) 99; 5, Mission/St.Ignatius (MSI) 131; Libby 179; Deer Lodge 180; Bigfork 181; Loyola 192; 10, Two Eagle River 255; <5: Arlee (Arl), Thompson Falls, Seeley-Swant, Hot Springs.

Individual Mission Valley sub-20s et al

1, James Normandeau (Ron) 16:43.65; 2, Tyler Schmautz (Fr) 16:45.94; 7, Brant Heiner (Ron) 17:31.36; 12, Michael Irvine (Ron) 18:05.86; 19, Zoran LaFrombois (MSI) 18:37.59; 20, Isaiah Nasewytewa (MSI)18:42.60; 23, Zarec Couture (Ron) 19:13.78; 26, Andrew Rush (MSI) 19:34.78; 29, Wendall Charlo (Ron) 19:53.44; 24, Billy Fisher (Arl) 19:30.03; 30, Aidyn Rosenbaum (MSI) 19:55.09;

RONAN – 1, James Normandeau 16:43.65; 7, Brant Heiner 17:31.36; 12, Michael Irvine 18:05.86; 23, Zarec Couture 19:13.78; 29, Wendall Charlo 19:53.44; 41, Christian Silgen 21:31.00; 12jv, Xavier Nolen 21:50.24; 28jv, Xander Nolen 25:40.98; 31jv, Brett Myers 26:18.23; 41jv, Ridge Barney 29:54.61;

MISSION/ST. IGNATIUS – 19, Zoran LaFrombois 18:37.59; 20, Isaiah Nasewytewa 18:42.60; 26, Andrew Rush 19:34.78; 30, Aidyn Rosenbaum 19:55.09; 44, Erich Morigeau 21:38.80; 66, Roman Gonzalez 26:26.94; 50, Leo Peirce 21:56.83; 22jv, Kody Dillard 23:53.16; 23jv, Landry Leishman 24:25.10.

ARLEE – 24, Billy Fisher 19:30.03;

TWO EAGLE RIVER – 43, Cailan Burke 21:37.13; 47, Nate Gate 21:43.35; 62, William Hameline 24:51.85; 64, Shade Tanner 25:33.28; 65, Cael Burke 25:34.74; 68, Eli VanMeter 32:08.16; 70, Elias Adams 37:42.07.

Girls

Team scores

Columbia Falls (CF) 33; Frenchtown (Fr) 61; Thompson Falls 114; Seeley-Swan 114; 5, Ronan (Ron) 117; Eureka 120; Bigfork (Bf) 130; Deer Lodge 188; <5: Charlo, Arlee, Libby, Loyola, TwoEagleRiver.

Area top-20 individual placers et al

1, Lara Erickson (CF) 20:15.16; 7, Claire Bagnell (Fr) 22:16.36; 10, Analeta YellowBird (Ron) 22:27.12; 17, Grace Stewart (Bf) 23:21.82; 18, Alaura Zarn (Bf) 23:21.88; 21, Olivia Heiner 23:36.20; 7jv, Kim Peacock (CF) 26:19.54;

CHARLO – 28, Guinevere Contreras 24:07.99; 30, Aryal Love 24:27.46; 24jv, Leah Maxfield 40:55.88.

RONAN – 10, Analeta YellowBird 22:27.12; 21, Olivia Heiner 23:36.20; 27, Brogan Youngren 24:05.91; 33, LaNissa Mahkuk 24:51.76; 39, Kinsley Barney 25:40.72; 10jv, Kieauna DeRoche 27:34.10; 13jv, Megan RedStar 31:35.29.

ARLEE – 34, Cheyenne Pablo 24:52.22; 35, Princess Bolen 24:52.90; 60, Aubrey Ishler 36:28.46.

TWO EAGLE RIVER – 59, Viviana AfterBuffalo-Adams 35:22.18; 62, Patience AfterBuffalo-Adams 48:26.99; 63, Monique Grant 48:42.22.

Expanded results featured among local media coverage. Unabridged results can be viewed online at

< competitivetiming.com > or < athletic.net >.

2019 Great Falls XC Invitational

Eagle Falls GC

Thursday, September 19

Classes B & C,

Girls

Team scores

1, Red Lodge 28; 2, Bigfork 51; 3, Sweet Grass 59; 4, Deer Lodge 106; 5, Cutbank 123; <5: Townsend, Centerville, Columbus, Sunburst, Darby, Fairfield, Seeley-Swan, Missoula Loyola, Cascade, Wolf Point, Rocky Boy, Great Falls Central, Jefferson, Hobson-Moore-Judith Gap, Arlee.

ARLEE – 40, Cheyenne Pablo 24:56.07; 70, Natallyia Martin 30:05.50.

Boys

Team scores

1, Manhattan Christian 26; 2, Cutbank 100; 3, Red Lodge 106; 4, Bigfork 117; 5, Wolf Point 123; 6, Loyola 170; 7, Deer Lodge 181; 8, Heart Butte 199; 9, Great Falls Central Catholic 206; 10, Arlee 208.

ARLEE – 23, Billy Fisher 18:54.13; 40, Micah Johnson 19:55.87; 77, RJ Knoll 22:41.65; 82, Denny Sween 23:03.96; 91, Devin Cordier 24:12.02.

Expanded results featured among local media coverage. Unabridged results can be viewed online at

< competitivetiming.com > or < athletic.net >.

2019 Kerr Dam Fields Pirate Stagger Start

Friday, September 20

1, Mason Sloan 16:23; 2, Isaac Stene 17:53; 3, Kellen Norman 17:57; 4, Kasen Heninger 17:58; 5, Ryan Dupuis 18:14; 6, Andrew Reed 19:03; 7, Xavier Pierre 19:05; 8, David Iliff 19:09; 9, Bridger Smith 19:56; 10, Sean Stewart 20:04; 11, Connor Lanier 20:36; 12, Noah Roberts 20:47; 13, Drifter Skillicorn 20:57; 14, Karli Owens 21:08; 15, Owen McElwee 21:27; 16, Ashtyn Wagner 21:33; 17, Gwen Seeley 21:46; 18, David Bjorge 21:46; 19, Halle Heninger 21:52; 20, River Shoemake 22:43; 21, Julia Reiners 24:45; 22, Paige Mergenthaler 25:55; 23, Nina Barfoot 26:32; 24, Elisabeth Bjorge 26:39.