Cross Country Week 8 update
Author: Cross Country Correspondent
Cross Country Week 8 update
Cross Country Correspondent
Townsend’s Edgewater Farms was the host to the most scenic cross-country meet of the 2023 season: the Rusty Raisland Memorial.
The course meandered along the Missouri River, edged beautifully in fall colors, before looping back through and around hay stacks following a two-track that passed the pumpkin patch and corn maze on the way back to the finish. High School hoofers looped this true cross-country route twice for their 5K, while the middle schoolers did it once for a race of 2500 meters.
The morning began with a combined men/women Junior Varsity race. The women’s race was won by Ennis’s freshman, Amber Rolfe, with her twin sister Ella 1/100th of a second behind. In their fourth year of XC, they alternate finishing in front of one another whenever they can. The men’s race was won by Junior Gavyn Ortman of Manhattan followed by teammate Greason Mattick.
Your Broadwater Bulldogs all raced at the Varsity level for their hometown meet, which is traditionally their final cross-country race of the season, before heading to the state competition. Junior Abby Wickens had the personal best of her career with a time of 21:46 placing 9th, improving by more than half a minute, which is quite an accomplishment in her third high school season. She was followed by fellow Juniors, Kaelyn Sangray (22:38) and Grace Kroeger (26:22), finishing 14th and 38th respectively. Senior Melania Lambott (29:02) was next for the Bulldogs in 41st. Freshman Fiona Nelson (31:20 PR) anchored the Lady Bulldogs in 44th shortening her personal best time by a remarkable 4:32! Way to finish the season ladies!
The flat course on a crisp, windless day made for a very fast pace by the fourteen teams represented in the Men’s Varsity race; most of your Bulldogs established their personal best times (PR) as a result. Leading the way was Junior Nolan Flynn (17:31 PR) in 7th who has shown steady improvement this season and looks to challenge at the state meet in Kalispell next week. Connor Lamb (18:53 PR) made the most of his senior meet by having his first sub-19 minute time and finishing 24th in a very strong field. A trio of Bulldogs established their fastest times ever by crossing the line consecutively with Freshman Rylan Hoveland (19:42 PR) in 31st, Junior Kaden Bruins (19:46 PR) in 32nd and Sophomore Gavin Green (19:49 PR) in 33rd. Another trio of Bulldogs finished back-to-back-to-back with Freshman Luke Tullos (22:50) in 52nd, Senior Aiden Easter (22:56) in 53rd, and Sophomore Keaton Cavasos (22:57 PR) in 54th. With an assist from Aiden, Keaton shortened his best by an amazing 2 minutes and 7 seconds! Rounding out the men’s team was Sophomore Wyatt Coker (24:19) in 61st place. Strong showing Bulldogs and super teamwork!
Late-season injuries prevented Juniors Scarlett McDaniel and Ross MacDonald, as well as, Freshman Kyla Meissner, from competing at the Raisland Invitational. Another runner of note to Broadwater residents was Junior Luke Halverson (16:42 PR) from Manhattan finishing in 3rd. He is the son of Seth Halverson, a physical therapist at Billings Clinic Broadwater.
One hundred sixty middle schoolers completed the day with the boys and girls competing simultaneously. Trey Coker (10:37) and Sawyer Pitman (10:39) crossed the timing belt first for the Bulldogs in 25th and 28th, respectively. Dylan Pitman (12:01) was 53rd, while Everett Kirksey (13:14) was 62nd and Jayden Flynn (18:23) was 70th. The girls’ team was led by Kathryn Six (11:40) in 26th, followed by Kensley Sangray (11:47) in 29th and Tana Santi (11:49) in 30th. Up next was Addy Mosher (12:19) in 45th, Lydia Brakefield (13:06) in 56th, Courtney Webber (13:34) in 63rd, Madison Vogl (14:26) in 74th, Kaedyn Budde (17:36) in 85th, Ella Tullos (18:43) in 88th and Aspen Bantz (19:45) in 89th.
These Bulldog runners all seem to peaking at the right time to perform well at the MHSA 60th Cross Country Championships this Saturday, October 21st in Kalispell at Rebecca Farms. Many of them have the potential to earn all-state honors.
It would be wonderful to send these amazing athletes off to Kalispell with a big boost of community support.
