WHITEFISH GIRLS WON STATE CROSS COUNTRY. CFALLS BOYS 2ND
October 26, 2008 Northwest Montana A Conference
WHITEFISH GIRLS WON STATE CROSS COUNTRY. CFALLS BOYS 2ND. COCCO TOOK 1ST FOR WHITEFISH AND CASSIDY GOT 2ND.
State A cross country: Whitefish's Coco runs away with state title
By MICHAEL HEINBACH of the Missoulian  |  | Drew Coco of Whitefish approaches the finish line to win the boys' Class A cross country title in a time of 15 minutes, 26.88 seconds Saturday at the UM Golf Course.
Photo by TOM BAUER/Missoulian |
Is there a better way to cap a perfect autumn afternoon in Missoula than with some hot cocoa? If you run cross country for Whitefish, there isn't.
Bulldog senior Drew Coco won the boys' individual title after the Whitefish girls dominated the competition for their second straight team championship Saturday at the State A cross country championships held at the University of Montana Golf Course.
Wearing the bull's-eye as the favorite coming in, Coco smoked the field and broke the tape at 15 minutes, 26.88 seconds. Lewistown junior Caleb Bentley was second at 16:02.53, followed by Hamilton senior Jake Jessop, who finished in 16:03.56. Shawn Whitman, a junior from Columbia Falls, placed fourth with a time of 16:18.94 and Havre sophomore Kendall Murie rounded out the top five, finishing in 16:25.43. Despite earning his first state championship in his final high school event, nobody could accuse Coco of excessive celebration. In fact, Coco seemed nearly downtrodden knowing he failed to break the state record of 15:03, set by former Dillon harrier Lynn Reynolds in 2006.
"Effort-wise I ran the race I wanted to," Coco said with his head down minutes after finishing. "Time-wise, no. I'm a little let down, especially it being the last race of my high school career. I was really eyeing that record. But you know, you can't have it all."
Try telling that to the Whitefish girls, who placed each of their five scoring runners in the top 15 as each earned all-state status. That pushed the Bulldogs to a team total of 43 points. Second-place Lewistown, led by individual medalist Brook Rogers, more than doubled Whitefish's score with 89 points. Hamilton was third with 101, Glendive took fourth with 121 and Laurel was fifth at 171.
Whitefish coach Bill Brist was thrilled with his team's performance and its second consecutive state title.
"Last year was definitely sweet," he said. "But this year is real special, too. I was listening to the names of girls who finished in the top 15 and they're all fantastic runners. I've been watching all of them in track and cross country and to have five (Whitefish girls) up there with that company is just outstanding."
Whitefish saw sophomore Jackie Cassidy place second, junior Loni Hanson, the 2007 champion, take fifth, while sophomores Stella Holt earned eighth, Jessica Sagen took 13th and Bailey Eaton placed 15th.
Rogers, the girls' individual champion, is far from enamored with running cross country. But after breaking away from the lead pack in the final 400 meters, she might enjoy being the best in the state in just her first year on the team.
"I don't really like running that much, because it kicks my butt," said Rogers, who played volleyball at Lewistown her freshman year. "I was just thinking the whole time that this is my last race and I'm so glad I'm almost done."
On the boys' side, Hamilton, which came a close second to Browning a year ago, earned a hard-fought state championship. The Broncs, led by Jessop in third and senior Ian Curtiss in seventh, posted 77 points.
"We took fifth three years ago with some of the same young kids and lost by eight last year when we thought we had a real good shot at Browning," said Hamilton coach Mark Albert. "We were really disappointed last year, so it was really our goal from that point on. We knew we were the favorites coming in, but I'm mostly proud that even though we were favored most of the year, we competed like champions every weekend."
State A cross country
at the University of Montana Golf Course
BOYS
Team scores: Hamilton 77, Columbia Falls 125, Dillon 149, Lewistown 151, Havre 158, Browning 164, Frenchtown 217, Corvallis 229, Ronan 245, Laurel 255, Polson 299, Whitefish 311, Hardin 311, Glendive 328, Belgrade 375, Billings Central 421, Libby 503, Anaconda 548.
Top 25 individuals
1, Drew Coco, Wfsh, 15:26.88; 2, Caleb Bentley, Lew, 16:02.53; 3, Jake Jessop, Ham, 16:03.46; 4, Shawn Whitman CF, 16:18.94; 5, Kendall Murie, Hav, 16:25.43; 6, Fred Alden, Har, 16:28.78; 7, Ian Curtiss, Ham, 16:30.38; 8, Kyle Fife, Geln, 16:31.04; 9, Patric Jessat, CF, 16:31.57; 10, Tucker White, BC, 16:32.23;
11, Brett Weidler, Lau, 16:33.17; 12, Chris Jessop, Corv, 16:35.23; 13, Jonathan Ries, Dil, 16:38.48; 14, Garrett Korb, Hav, 16:39.03; 15, Justin Dusty Bull, Ron, 16:40.89; 16, Clay Armstrong, Ftn, 16:48.61; 17, Kevin Wreblewski, Ron, Ron, 16:50.06; 18, Kaden Keto, Hav, 16:54.46; 19, Derek DesRosier, Bro, 16:54.72; 20, Joe Clark, Ham, 16:59.18;
21, Joey Vaughn, Bel, 16:59.57; 22, Grady Kepler, Lew, 17:04.31; 23, Wyatt Lawrence, Ham, 17:06.13; 24, Bubba Gueldenhaar, Ham, 17:08.95; 24, Calon Lochridge, Dil, 17:11.63.
Other western Montana finishers
26, Stuart Allred, Corv, 17:14.37; 30, Justin Whitman, CF, 17:23.51; 34, Cameron Harder, 17:27.06; 36, Mackenzie Walters, Ham, 17:33.40; 37, Tripp Gimbel, CF, 17:33.67; 38, Bridger Mahlum, Bigfork, 17:34.83; 40, Pat McGunagle, Wfsh, 17:35.83; 41, Miles Bieber, Pol, 17:38.14; 42, Colter Bull, Pol, 17:38.35; 43, Danny Beavers, Ron, 17:42.68; 45, Pascal Jessat, CF, 17:46.26; 47, Richie Bick, Ftn, 17:51.33; 48, Michael Kruse, CF, 17:51.97; 49, Quinton Tolman, Ftn, 17:53.58; 52, Chance Salois, Ftn, 18:04.23; 53, Tyler Norman, Ftn, 18:07.15; 57, Joe Gross, CF, 18:14.38; 60, Spencer Fehr, Corv, 18:16.95; 61, Nathan Knox, Wfsh, 18:17.89; 64, Jake Woods, Corv, 18:18.94; 67, Ryan Zsupnik, Corv, 18:27.65; 68, Sam Boyle, Pol, 18:28.27; 69, Kyle Van Atta, Pol, 18:28.71; 73, Brady Oakland, Ron, 18:36.01; 78, Chase Stoker, Corv, 18:44.61; 79, NIck Andrews, Pol, 18:46.10; 80, Taylor Scott, Pol, 18:46.33; 83, Nathan Francis, Ftn, 18:54.50; 88, Hokan Holmquist, Ftn, 19:00.78; 89, William Lott, Lib, 19:03.91; 90, Ben Graziano, Lib, 19:05.54; 93, Ben Elliott, Lib, 19:11.53; 97, Edmond Dupuis, Ron, 19:23.93; 99, Spencer Jenko, Bfk, 19:28.52; 103, Maholne Jessop, Corv, 19:38.22; 104, Kaleb Prestegaard, Wfsh, 19:41.76; 105, Daniel Riviera, Wfsh, 19:42.43; 109, Will Houldsen, Wfsh, 19:56.59; 111, Jacob Young, Pol, 19:57.98; 114, Thomas Jacob, Lib, 20:05.71; 117, Cody Elliott, Lib, 20:30.81; 118, Dietrich Perchy, Wfsh, 20:33.94; 119, Eric Malmquist, Ron, 20:52.91; 120, Zeke Carlson, Lib, 20:54.85; 122, Christian Rogers, Ron, 21:11.54; 131, Trebor Hogan, Lib, 21:54.02; 134, Chris Driver, Bfk, 22:13.35.
GIRLS
Team scores: Whitefish 43, Lewistown 89, Hamilton 89, Hamilton 101, Glendive 121, Laurel 171, Dillon 193, Havre 243, Columbia Falls 246, Polson 255, Frenchtown 293, Belgrade 298, Hardin 309, Ronan 335, Sidney 352, Corvallis 367, Miles City 420, Browning 425, Billings Central 430, Anaconda 557.
Top 25 individuals
1, Brook Rogers, Lew, 18:45.32; 2, Jackie Cassidy, Wfsh, 18:53.79; 3, Mesa Starkey, Pol, 19:05.29; 4, Nocona Frame, Glen, 19:08.48; 5, Loni Hanson, Wfsh, 19:13.96; 6, Kayla Carlson, Bfk, 19:24.69; 7, Jessica Englert, Lau, 19:26.21; 8, Stella Holt, Wfsh, 19:27.01; 9, Caitlin Taggart, Glen, 19:29.97; 10, Anna Richter, BC, 19:35.03;
11, Talitha Smith, Dil, 19:36.71; 12, Misha Trotter, Ham, 19:44.95; 13, Jessica Sagen, Wfsh, 19:47.51; 14, Emily Schall, Ftn, 19:47.91; 15, Bailey Eaton, Wfsh, 19:48.13; 16, Danica Loucks, Ham, 19:56.38; 17, Franki Romano, Ham, 19:58.77; 18, Kierra Bullock, Lew, 20:08.33; 19, Emily Burnham, Lew, 20:08.63; 20, Sadie McMillan, Ron, 20:18.94;
21, Natalie Kearns, Wfsh, 20:19.24; 22, Mauree Palmersheim, Ham, 20:22.72; 23, Ingrid Stansberry, Lew, 20:23.36; 24, Tori Shoopman, Geln, 20:33.03; 25, Kelly Beiser, Wfsh, 20:36.04.
Other western Montana finishers
27, Nicki Moser, CF, 20:46.28; 30, Shanna Burke, Ftn, 20:54.21; 34, Tori Porcella, Ham, 21:03.65; 37, Annie Jessop, Corv, 21:10.23; 38, Maddie Hewston, Pol, 21:10.47; 46, Leesa Benner, Columbia Falls, 21:17.39; 49, Ashley Grandchamp, Ron, 21:24.54; 51, Dannah Turner, CF, 21:28.80; 55, Mariah Swan, Pol, 21:33.62; 59, Madison Stolte, CF, 21:37.46; 61, Megan Auch, Corv, 21:42.19; 62, Kendra Wabaunsee, Ftn, 21:44.01; 63, Jinise Osborne, CF, 21:45.28; 66, Ashley Hayes, Ham, 21:51.15; 68, Alexas Young, CF, 21:55.66; 74, Courtney White, Corv, 22:06.50; 78, Laura Barta, Pol, 22:15.21; 80, TyLynn Lefthand, Ron, 21:22.63; 81, Erika Nunlist, Pol, 22:22.43; 85, Tabitha Maughan, Ron, 22:26.85; 87, Krista MacDonald, Ftn, 22:28.75; 90, Heather Handy, Corv, 22:32.24; 95, Tessa Cowan, CF, 22:46.44; 98, Mary Wiedrich, Pol, 22:50.62; 100, Angela Scheffer, Ftn, 22:55.66; 101, Taylor Linse, Ron, 22:56.52; 103, Kjerston Ness, Ftn, 22:59.33; 104, Moriah Hughes, Ham, 23:03.35; 105, Rula Weidow, Corv, 23:05.58; 110, Rosleyn Hardy, Ron, 23:26.05; 118, Taylor Cullin, Ron, 24:21.99; 121, Elizabeth Rogers, Lib, 24:31.30; 123, Andrea Jones, Ftn, 24:53.02; 125, Desirae Lindquist, Corv, 24:58.07; 128, Lexi Sangsterm Corv, 25:14.98; 129, Dani Howlett, Pol, 25:21.20; 133, Cassi Moog, Lib, 26:45.00; 134, Nicole Rios, Lib, 30:21.00; 136, Brandi Mirador, Lib, 31:54.00. |
NATIONAL
MONTANA
