Cross Country Meet
Author: MT43 News Sports Reporter
MT43 News Sports Reporter
Bill Roberts Golf Course in Helena was the site of last Thursday’s Capital City 7 of 7 Invitational Cross-Country Meet. Fifty-nine schools from all classes brought more than 1200 runners for the nine distinct races. The day-long event starts with the Junior Varsity Women’s and Men’s Races, much like a traditional meet.
Then things get crazy with the Varsity teams separating into seven separate races #1-#7. As determined by their coaches, the seven Varsity runners are each placed in one of the races, with the #1 competitor as the team’s fastest runner. The girls and boys with the same running position on teams run in the same race. This format allows for seven individual girls winners and seven individual boys winners; runners who may not be accustomed to winning a race have that opportunity at the 7 of 7. The course consists of two loops of rolling hills and is certainly challenging, with a day that started overcast but heated as the day progressed.
Samuel Flesch (23:03) and Alex Johnson (27:43) started the day for the Bulldogs in the JV Men’s Race placing 304th and 365th, respectively. Logan Barkhurst (27:36) was 211th in the JV Women’s Race, while Fiona Nelson (33:29 SR) marked her season’s best time coming in 267th. A combined 652 runners took to the course during these first two races.
Shalyn Sentinella (25:38 PR) clocked her best time yet finishing in 34th for the Ladies alongside Keaton Cavasos (22:51) 42nd for the Men, in the No. 7 race. Arabella McDaniel (23:38 PR) ran her PR in the No. 6 race ending in 17th, while Patrick Gossard (21:26) finished 37th in the same race. Luke Tullos (20:40 PR) established his new best time placing 38th, with Rylan Hoveland (20:57) finishing 37th in the No. 5 & No. 4 races, respectively.
Up next in the No. 3 race for the Bulldogs was Kaden Bruins (19:07 PR), who is gets faster each week, finishing 30th. Gavin Green (18:51) was 33rd in the No. 2 race and Elaine MacDonald (20:33 PR) was 12th. The last race of the day saw Nolan Flynn (17:30) place 37th and Kyla Meissner (20:02) in 9th.
What you can’t see on this tally is the wear and tear that a long season running hundreds of miles starts to take. Ross MacDonald, Kaelyn Sangray, and Grace Kroeger have suffered some injuries that have stalled their seasons. They are however looking to regroup in time for their only home meet of the season, Thursday, October 17th, which will have occurred by the publication of this article.
What will not have happened yet is the last meet of the season. The MHSA All-Class Country Championships will be held on Saturday, October 26th in Missoula at the University of Montana Golf Course. Many of these Bulldogs are peaking at the right time and have the potential to earn all-state honors. Please join in by sending these athletes off by cheering the bus as it leaves town on Friday, October 25th at noon.
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Image 1 Caption: Junior Alex Johnson completes the second loop at Bill Roberts Golf Course.
MT43 News Sports Reporter
Image 2 Caption: Sophomore Bella McDaniel marks her PR at the Capital City 7 of 7.
MT43 News Sports Reporter
