Cross country runners honing their edge as regular season winds down
Three meets were run this past week that featured area cross country runners. Last Tuesday, Ronan and Polson competed in the Whitefish Invitational, while Mission, Arlee and Charlo among several others ran in the rescheduled Mission Cross Country Meet in St. Ignatius.
At Whitefish, Ronan's Brant Heiner turned in a personal best, his fifth medalist finish this season. Polson's Karli Owens and Halle Heninger clocked season bests, while Ronan’s Olivia Heiner turned in a personal best, her fourth top 5 finish this season
At the rescheduled Mission Meet, the Bulldog boys placed three among top 10, led by Thomas Nuila's second-place finish with a sub-18, followed by a fifth place sub-18 showing by Andrew Rush. Zoran LaFrombois placed seventh with a sub-19.
This past weekend at Pablo under the shadow of the Mission Mountains, runners from across western Montana converged to compete in an alternate format race that differed from the typical mass mob start. These duels pit runners stratified from No. 1 through No. 7 against their counterparts from each team. These groups then stagger start in waves, followed by the next group.
The varsity race featured 20 second intervals between subsequent groups, junior varsity and middle schoolers one minute intervals. The staggered/wave format tends to be more "social distancing" friendly for the current pandemic climate. To address critiques about the reduction of competitive incentives for runners who tend to be better motivated with other runners to pace themselves against, the typical top to bottom start format was flip-flopped so that No. 7s started with No. 1s grouped last.
Once the times were collated and compared, Brant Heiner of Ronan took medalist honors for his sixth race of the season with the top sub-17 mark of the meet among the boys, while defending state Class A champion Brynnli Poulson of Hamilton won the girls race with the lone sub-20.
Fellow Ronan Chiefs Michael Irvine and Zarec Couture both ran sub-18s for top 15 finishes, while Thomas Nuila of Mission likewise clocked in with a sub-18 for a top 10 finish.
Polson runners Ryan Dupuis, Drifter Skillicorn and Mason Sloan all posted sub-19s, with Skillicorn and Dupuis posting personal bests.
Both Halle Heninger of Polson and Olivia Heiner of Ronan ran lower half sub-23s to finish among the top 15. Fellow Maiden Brogan Youngren shaved over half a minute off the time of her earlier race last week to post a personal best as well as knock at the door of the top 15, mere fractions off the pace. Polson’s Karli Owens was a mere 10 seconds from landing among the top-tier leaders.
Area teams enter the final stretch of the regular schedule. Arlee hosts its annual Fish Hatchery Challenge and Guppy Run on Thursday. Kalispell hosts the Western A Invite at Rebecca Farms on Saturday, the venue of the state Class A meet in a few weeks.
2020 Mission Shadow Duels
Silver Fox GC, Pablo
Saturday, Oct. 3
5k(v&jv), 2m(ms)
Girls
Team scores
1, Columbia Falls (CF) 21; 2, Polson (Pol) 73; 3, Whitefish (Wf) 81; 4, Frenchtown (Fr) 95; 5, Thompson Falls (TF) 101; <5: Ronan (Ron); Mission St. Ignatius; Charlo; Dillon (Dil); Stevensville; Libby; Loyola Sacred Heart.
Top 15 finishers
1, Brynnli Poulsen (Ham) 19:34; 2, Lara Erickson (CF) 20:31; 3, Hannah Sempf (CF) 20:45; 4, Ally Sempf (CF) 20:50; 5, Abigail Sherwood (Fr) 21:08; 6, Josey Neesvig (TF) 21:10; 7, Paetra Cooke (Wf) 21:35; 8; Hailey Powell (Dil) 21:51; 9, Siri Erickson (CF) 21:59; 10, Mikelle Mosher (Dil) 21:59; 11, Alyssa Blankenship (CF) 22:14; 12, Halle Heninger (Pol) 22:17; 13, Olivia Heiner (Ron) 22:27; 14, Emma Upton (CF) 22:43; 15, Madison Ward (Ham) 22:56;
Team individual results
Mission Valley
POLSON – 12, Halle Heninger 22:17; 18, Karli Owens 23:07; 21, Adison Carlson 23:13; 24, Maddilyn Huffine 23:33; 25, Ashtyn Wagner 23:37; 28, Katelyn Smith 24:25; 32, River Shoemake 24:40; 1jv, Isabel Seeley 24:46pr; 5jv, Sami Dolberry 26:28; 19jv, Zoe Crowl 29:08; (ms=2m) 4ms, Baylee Lemm 13:58; 9ms, Morgan Delaney 14:48.
RONAN – 13, Olivia Heiner 22:27; 16, Brogen Youngren 22:56pr; 27 Kaona Trahan 24:13; 15jv, Nichole Koehler 28:31; (ms=2m) 27ms, Annie Adams 15:47; 35ms, Maddie Duffey 16:46.
MISSION (St. Ignatius) – 34, Madyson Currie 25:34; 44, Ellanah Flatlip 28:30; 46, Emmy Flatlip 30:26.
CHARLO – 40, Aryal Love 27:25;
ARLEE – 13jv, Cheyenne Pablo 28:20; 16jv, Princess Bolen 28:34sr; 25, Natallyia Martin 32:05; 33, Isabell Mills 38:33.
Boys
Team scores
1, Hamilton (Ham) 41; 2, Whitefish (Wf) 87; 3, Ronan (Ron) 96; 4, Columbia Falls (CF) 107; 5, Dillon (Dil) 147; 6, Polson 159; 7, Mission St. Ignatius (MSI) 167; 8, Thompson Falls (TF) 198; 9, Libby 210; 10, Loyola Sacred Heart 239; 11, Stevensville 339.
Top 15 finishers
1, Brant Heiner (Ron) 16:25; 2, Colter Purcell (Ham) 16:47; 3, Justin Morgan (TF) 16:52; 4, Ben Steadman 17:01; 5, Colter Kirkland (Ham) 17:09; 6, Michael Irvine (Ron) 17:23sr; 7, Lane Cole (Ham) 17:28; 8, Mason Genovese 17:33; 9, Deneb Linton 17:46; 10, Thomas Nuila (MSI) 17:50; 11, Zarec Couture (Ron) 17:53sr; 12, Harrison Silverio (Ham) 17:53; 13, Seth Umbriaco (CF) 18:00; 14, Daniel Martin (Dil) 18:03; 15, Tanner Nead (Ham) 18:05;
Team individual results
Mission Valley
RONAN – 1, Brant Heiner 16:25; 6, Michael Irvine 17:23sr; 11, Zarec Couture 17:53sr; 35, Elijah Tonasket 19:39; 44, Dillon Omeasoo 20:16; 45, Landon Bishop 20:23; 49, Keyan PrettyOnTop 20:48; 11jv, Wendall Charlo 20:52; 18jv, Beau Decker 21:40; 23jv, Nicholas Dresen 22:06; 27jv, Ian Dillard 22:19pr; 36jv, Xavier Nolen 23:39sr; 48jv, Gabe Brown 25:06; 52jv, Brett Myers 25:45; 62jv, Ridge Barney 31:08; (ms=2m) 7ms, Lochlyn Finley 12:50; 16ms, Rylee Griffin 13:36.
POLSON – 20, Ryan Dupuis 18:20pr; 26, Drifter Skillicorn 18:48; 27, Mason Sloan 18:51; 36, Noah Roberts 19:39pr; 9jv, Kai McDonald 20:47pr; 51, David Bjorge 20:52; 52, Sean Stewart 20:53; 12jv, Aiden Murdock 20:57pr; 56, Aiden Gfroerer 21:26; 15jv, Brandt Heninger 21:34; 32jv, Hayden Clairmont 23:16pr; 33jv, Kai Clifford 23:18; 47jv, Xavier Pierre 24:57; (ms=2m) 6ms, Teague McElwee 12:44; 19ms, Corben Carlson 13:46.
MISSION (St. Ignatius) – 10, Thomas Nuila 17:50; 18, Andrew Rush 18:16; 23, Zoran LaFrombois 18:31sr; 55, Erich Morigeau 21:25; 65, Landry Leishman 22:40; 67, Kody Dillard 23:32; 73, Isaiah Nasewytewa 25:06; 31jv, Leo Peirce 22:49; 60jv, Connor Burke 28:18; (ms=2m) 1ms, Robbie Nuila 11:46.
CHARLO – 59, Hayden Smith 21:33.
ARLEE – 16jv, R.J. Knoll 21:36sr; 37jv, Sage Nicolai 23:49sr; 54jv, Deon Redcloud 26:13.
2020 Mission XC Meet
Mission HS, St. Ignatius, MT
Tuesday, September 29
Team scores
1, Thompson Falls (TF) 23; 2, Deer Lodge (DL) 32; <5: Mission St. Ignatius (MSI), Loyola Sacred Heart (LSH), Drummond (Dr), Charlo (Ch), Darby (Dar), Arlee.
Top 15 finishers
1, Cedar Hunt (MSI) 22:39.41; 2, Ellie Baxter (TF) 22:39.66; 3, Abby Strader 22:58.06; 4, Hattie Neesvig (TF) 23:36.27; 5, Natalie Spring (DL) 23:45.44; 6, Gracie Yakos (Dr) 23:47.09; 7, Linnea Schafer (LSH) 24:02.31; 8, Guinevere Contreras Ch) 24:20.05; 9, Faith Palmer (TF) 24:42.26; 10, Madyson Currie (MSI) 24:44.00; 11, Emaleigh Packer (DL) 25:19.60; 12, Megan Baxter (TF) 25:37.10; 13, Eden Butler (DL) 25:37.59; 14, Sammy Shull (Dar) 26:40.55; 15, Sarah Lombardi (DL) 27:05.27.
Individual team scores
MISSION (St. Ignatius) – 1, Cedar Hunt 22:39.41; 10, Madyson Currie 24:44.00; 17, Emmy Flatlip 27:52.16; 19, Ellanah Flatlip 27:59.71.
CHARLO – 8, Guinevere Contreras 24:20.05; dns: Aryal Love.
ARLEE – 21, Princess Bolen 29:03.86; 25, Natallyia Martin 35:01.64.
Boys
Team scores
1, Thompson Falls (TF) 38; 2, Mission (MSI) 47; 3, Loyola-Sacred Heart 56; 4, Deer Lodge 88; <5: Darby (Dar), Drummond (Dru), Hot Springs (HS).
Top 15 finishers
1, Justin Morgan (TF) 16:58.98; 2, Thomas Nuila (MSI) 17:32.17; 3, Aidan Thompson (DL) 17:39.52; 4, Samuel Bryant (Dru) 17:54.14; 5, Andrew Rush (MSI) 17:59.24; 6, Brooks McAfee (TF) 18:26.45; 7, Zoran LaFrombois (MSI) 18:58.67; 8, William Martin (Dar) 19:27.74; 9, Scott Parke (Dru) 19:34.44; 10, Noah Kimball (LSH) 19:48.06; 11, Cael Thilmony (TF) 19:58.36; 12, Will Hyatt (TF) 19:59.95; 13, Zeke Boos (LSH) 20:02.44; 14, Dillon Taylor (LSH) 20:07.38; 15, Kawika Ilac (HS) 20:24.31.
Individual team scores
MISSION (St. Ignatius) – 2, Thomas Nuila 17:32.17; 5, Andrew Rush 17:59.24; 7, Zoran LaFrombois 18:58.67; 19, Erich Morigeau 21:02.60; 29, Landry Leishman 22:40.58; 32, Kody Dillard 23:12.17; 35, Isaiah Nasewytewa 23:46.16; 42, Connor Burke 31:37.93.
CHARLO – 20, Hayden Smith 21:06.71.
ARLEE – 30, R.J. Knoll 22:41.84; 36, Deon RedCloud 24:20.77;
2020 Whitefish Invitational
Whitefish Golf Course
Tuesday, September 29
5000m (v&jv), 1.6mi.(ms)
Girls
Team scores
1, Polson (Pol) 20; 2, Frenchtown (Fr) 48; 3, Lincoln County (Eur) 61; <5: Ronan (Ron), Bigfork (Bf), Libby.
Top 15 finishers
1, Abigail Sherwood (Fr) 21:33.60; 2, Karli Owens (Pol) 22:10.67; 3, Olivia Heiner (Ron) 22:12.93; 4, Halle Heninger (Pol) 22:13.98; 5, Adison Carlson (Pol) 23:10.94; 6, Tabitha Raymond (Bf) 23:16.36; 7, Maddilyn Huffine (Pol) 23:18.56; 8, Grace Stewart (Bf) 23:23.07; 9, Katelyn Smith (Pol) 23:26.09; 10, Brogen Youngren (Ron) 23:36.91; 11, Kaona Trahan (Ron) 23:38.58; 12, River Shoemake (Pol) 23:42.65; 13, Milynn Lucey (Eur) 24:12.94; 14, Shelby Sherwood (Fr) 24:35.74; 15, Kodi White (Fr) 25:12.63.
Individual team scores
POLSON – 2, Karli Owens 22:10.67; 4, Halle Heninger 22:13.98; 5, Adison Carlson 23:10.94; 7, Maddilyn Huffine 23:18.56; 9, Katelyn Smith 23:26.09; 12, River Shoemake 23:42.65; 1jv, Isabel Seeley 25:04.96; 2jv, Sami Dolberry 26:39.37; 6jv, Zoe Crowl 29:07.20; dns: Ashtyn Wagner.
RONAN – 3, Olivia Heiner 22:12.93; 10, Brogen Youngren 23:36.91; 11, Kaona Trahan 23:38.58; 3jv, Nichole Koehler 27:39.79; (ms=1.6mile) 18ms, Annie Adams 12:39.43; 22ms, Maddie Duffey 13:23.15; 23ms, Nova Corum 13:26.44; 42ms, Rayna Tonasket 16:14.88; 47ms, Aubrey Krell 18:38.69; 48ms, Mataya Stevens 18:50.74.
Boys
Team scores
1, Lincoln County (Eur) 31; 2, Ronan (Ron) 34; 3, Polson (Pol) 66; 4, Libby (Lib) 94; <5: Bigfork (Bf), East Helena
Top 15 finishers
1, Brant Heiner (Ron) 16:16.09; 2, Chaidh Lochridge (Eur) 17:40.53; 3, Michael Irvine (Ron) 18:13.65; 4, Zarec Couture (Ron) 18:18.44; 5, Gavin Bates (Eur) 18:18.95; 6, Ryan Dupuis (Pol) 18:24.89; 7, Kyle Durden (Eur) 18:50.50; 8, Henry Cooke (Eur) 18:50.79; 9, Jacob Buckingham (Eur) 18:56.42; 10, Ian Kumle (Eur) 18:58.31; 11, Drifter Skillicorn (Pol) 19:01.93; 12, Colton Ballard (Bf) 19:24.81; 13, Dillon Omeasoo (Ron) 19:41.16; 14, Wyatt Ehredt (Fr) 19:44.75; 15, Greyson Thompson (Lib) 19:48.46.
Individual team scores
POLSON – 6, Ryan Dupuis (Pol) 18:24.89; 11, Drifter Skillicorn 19:01.93; 17, Aiden Gfroerer 19:50.60; 18, Noah Roberts 19:54.07; 21, David Bjorge 20:23.08; 22, Sean Stewart 20:27.43; 2jv, Brandt Heninger 20:33.17; 4jv, Kai McDonald 21:01.19; 12jv, Aiden Murdock 22:12.81; 14jv, Kai Clifford 23:18.96; 17jv, Hayden Clairmont 24:07.36; 20jv, Xavier Pierre 24:44.19; 27jv, Tommy Williams 30:23.50; dns: Mason Sloan, Wica Brown.
RONAN – 1, Brant Heiner 16:16.09pr; 3, Michael Irvine 18:13.65; 4, Zarec Couture 18:18.44; 13, Dillon Omeasoo 19:41.16; 16, Elijah Tonasket 19:50.57; 28, Landon Bishop 21:06.71; 5jv, Beau Decker 21:04.52; 6jv, Wendall Charlo 21:15.97; 11jv, 9 Keyan PrettyOnTop 22:06.18; 13, Nicholas Dresen 22:39.33; 0">18. 9 Ian Dillard 24:31.48; 19, Xavier Nolen 24:31.63; 24jv, Brett Myers 26:50.73; 28jv, Gabe Brown 31:05.66; 30jv, Ridge Barney 34:02.27.
