Area cross country runners excel despite new routes with ridges

by John Heglie, special for the Leader
| September 16, 2020 12:15 AM

Polson inaugurated a newly designed trail this past weekend when Pirate cross country hosted the Cougar Ridge Trail Race in lieu of the cancelation of their traditional Highlander Meet in Spokane. Most Mission Valley area teams competed, with the exception of Mission who had a previous commitment.

For the girls, Karli Owens took top honors, while teammates Halle Heninger, Adison Carlson, Maddilyn Huffine along with River Shoemake finished third through sixth, while Ashtyn Wagner as well as Katelyn Smith finished among the top ten with eighth and ninth respectively.

Ronan Maiden Olivia Heiner captured runnerup second place honors, while teammate Brogan Youngren placed seventh. Cheyenne Pablo of Arlee rounded out the top ten. Isabel Seeley of Polson and Aryal Love of Charlo were within half a minute of cracking the top ten grid.

On the boys side, Brant Heiner of Ronan took top honors with the only sub-18, while fellow Chiefs Michael Irvine, Zarec Couture, Elijah Tonasket, Landon Bishop and Silas Phelan placed among the top ten with second, fourth and seventh through ninth place finishes. Polson Pirate twice all-stater Mason Sloan was knocking on the door of a sub-19 with a third place finish, while fellow mates

Ryan Dupuis and Drifter Skillicorn placed fifth and sixth. Rounding out the top ten was Drew Knoll of Arlee.

Polson XC coach Matt Seeley pointed out that, "we had nine runners drop time on the much hillier trail course, and others get very close to the same time."

From a strategic planning point of view, what better way to facilitate compacting a newly designed trail than by having a small crowd of runners tamp it down with their feet as they compete in a race.

Bigfork held a triad of Western B teams simultaneously this past weekend. Andrew Rush was the top Mission finisher, while Zoran LaFrombois and Erich Morigeau both finished among the top ten.

There were only ten participants in the girls varsity race, so everyone made the top ten grid. Cedar Hunt and Madyson Currie were the runners from Mission.

Mission cross-country was slated to host the Mission Invitational in St. Ignatius, but poor air quality due to the influx of smoke from west coast fires forced its cancellation.

[fine sports font agate for runner results below]

2020 Cougar Ridge Trail Race

Ridgewater Community Trail

Polson, MT

Saturday, September 12

Girls

Team scores

1, Polson 19; <5: Ronan, Charlo, Arlee.

Individual runners

1, Karli Owens (P) 23:10; 2, Olivia Heiner (R) 23:23; 3, Halle Heninger (P) 23:50; 4, Adison Carlson (P) 25:05; 5, Maddilyn Huffine (P) 25:09; 6, River Shoemake (P) 25:40; 7, Brogan Youngren (R) 26:08; 8, Ashtyn Wagner (P) 26:56; 9, Katelyn Smith (P) 27:16; 10, Cheyenne Pablo (A) 27:24; 11, Isabel Seeley (P) 27:33; 12, Aryal Love (C) 27:52; 13, Sami Dolberry (P) 28:46; 14, Guinevere Contreras (C) 28:46; 15, Kaona Trahan (R) 29:02; 16, Zoe Crowl (P) 30:44; 17, Nichole Koehler (R) 31:07; 18, Princess Bolen (A) 31:54; 19, Isabell Mills (A) 44:05.

Boys

Team scores: 1, Ronan (R) 22; 2, Polson (P) 38; <5: Arlee (A); Charlo (C).

Individual runners

1, Brant Heiner (R) 17:42; 2, Michael Irvine (R) 18:54; 3, Mason Sloan (P) 19:04; 4, Zarec Couture (R) 19:37; 5, Ryan Dupuis (P) 19:48; 6, Drifter Skillicorn (P) 20:08; 7, Elijah Tonasket (R) 20:55; 8, Landon Bishop (R) 21:27; 9, Silas Phelan (R) 21:29; 10, Drew Knoll (A) 22:06; 11, Aiden Gfroerer (P) 22:09; 12, Dillon Omeasoo (R) 22:10; 13, Aidan Murdock (P) 22:14; 14, Wendell Charlo (R) 22:31; 15, RJ Knoll (A) 22:33; 16, Noah Roberts (P) 23:10; 17, David Bjorge (P) 23:19; 18, Hayden Smith (C) 23:35; 19, Sean Stewart (P) 23:42; 20, Beau Decker (R) 23:44; 21, Keyan PrettyOnTop (R) 23:54; 22, Kai McDonald (P) 24:11; 23, Brandt Heninger (P) 24:15; 24, Gabe Brown (R) 24:19; 25, Deon RedCloud (A) 25:19; 26, Kai Clifford (P) 25:23; 27, Ian Dillard (R) 25:32; 28, *Lucas Delaney (R) 25:41; 29, Hayden Clairmont (P) 26:44; 30, Brett Meyers (R) 31:06; 31, Wica Brown (P) 31:26; 32, Tommy Williams (P) 37:25; 33, Ridge Barney (R) 39:31.

Asterisk denotes stat variant where alternate data exists: bracelet originally assigned pre-race to

Nicholas Dresen, who was not in attendance, was used by teammate.

2020 Flathead Lake Monster Triad

Saddlehorn Trail, Bigfork, MT

Saturday, September 12

Team scores

1, Thompson Falls (TF) 38; 2, Bigfork (Bf) 39; 3, Mission St. Ignatius (MSI) 47.

Top ten finishers

1, Justin Morgan (TF) 18:40.7; 2, Andrew Rush (MSI) 20:15.7; 3, Elliot Sanford (Bf) 20:33.9; 4, Brooks McAfee (TF) 20:37.0; 5, Zoran LaFrombois (MSI) 20:51.7; 6, Colton Ballard (Bf) 21:06.9; 7, Colton Wroble Bf) 21:17.2; 8, Cael Thilmony (TF) 21:31.7; 9, Shelton Woll (Bf) 23:18.7; 10, Erich Morigeau (MSI) 23:47.4; 11, Nathan Cottingham (TF) 23:48.0;

MISSION ST. IGNATIUS – 2, Andrew Rush 20:15.7; 5, Zoran LaFrombois 20:51.7; 10, Erich Morigeau 23:47.4; 14, Landry Leishman 25:32.1; 16, Isaiah Nasewytewa 30:57.0; 17, Kody Dillard 31:04.2.

Girls

Top ten finishers

1, Josey Neesvig (TF) 23:18.1; 2, Cedar Hunt (MSI) 24:45.4; 3, Grace Stewart (MSI) 24:50.0; 4, Tabitha Raymond (Bf)25:14.4; 5, Ellie Baxter (TF) 25:19.4; 6, Hattie Neesvig (TF) 25:50.2; 7, Madyson Currie MSI) 27:14.7; 8, Megan Baxter (TF) 27:36.5; 9, Faith Palmer (TF) 29:32.7; 10, Roni Hanks (TF) 31:30.9

Mission Middle School

GIRLS: 6ms, Kason Page (MSI) 17:01.5 (1.5mile); BOYS: 4ms, Harlan Leishman (MSI) 12:44.8; 5ms, Sawyer Pule (MSI) 13:11.8; 7ms, Jake Helser (MSI) 13:46.0