Derrick Williams and Justin Whitman took first and second respectively, but the boys cross country team came up just short of winning another divisional title last Saturday.

Williams clocked a 16:16 to take the conference crown and Whitman was just three seconds behind. Zayne Brunz took 12th with a 16:50 and James Ratzlaff was 14th with a 17:04.

Coach Richard Menicke was pleased with the team’s performance.

“Williams and Whitman have been getting it done all season,” he said. “They ran to win.”

Whitman’s time was seventh fastest in school history. Both runners posted impressive final mile times. Williams ran a 5:11, Whitman a 5:13.

“I’m happy for Justin,” Menicke said. “He worked very, very hard.”

The Cats needed a fifth runner to place well to win the meet. But that didn’t quite come to fruition and Whitefish won with 40 points. The Cats took second with a 50 and Polson was third with a 69.

Austin Dumay, one of the team’s top runners, was moved to the junior varsity race for disciplinary reasons. He missed two practices, Menicke said.

Dumay will run varsity at the state meet, he said. Menicke said he was pleased with Seth McCall, who was the team’s sixth fastest runner, marking a time of 18 minutes flat. McCall was edged by teammate Pascal Jessat at the line.

The team travels to Helena for the state meet this Saturday. Menicke said the field is “wide open,” though Columbia Falls should be right in the mix.

Corvallis, Whitefish and Belgrade will all be tough to beat.

On the girls’ side, the Wildkats were led by Jinise Osborne, who still took ninth despite having a stomach bug. Osborne clocked a 19:53.

She was followed by Nicki Moser, who took 13th, 21:06; Alexas Young, 14th, 21:11; Madison Stolte, 15th, 21:13 and Cami Casazza, 17th, 21:28.

As a team, they took third.

“Our senior girls ran great,” Menicke said. “It was their fastest cumulative time of the season.”

Stolte won’t run at state because she’s taking college entrance exams. Kaylin Carvey and Tori Price will run. Both had good outings at the divisional meet.

BOYS

Teams scores: Whitefish 40, Columbia Falls 50, Polson 69, Ronan 83, Libby 110.

Top 20 individuals - 1. Derrick Williams, CF, 16:16; 2. Justin Whitman, CF, 16:19; 3. Nathan Knox, WF, 16:23; 4. Fischer Gangemi, WF, 16:26; 5. Jimmy Biorge, P, 16:29; 6. Travis Hayes, P, 16:31; 7. Alex Nystrom, P, 16:33; 8. Jacob Thomas, L, 16:35; 9. Jace Kalbfleisch, WF, 16:35; 10. Mathias Komarek, WF, 16:38; 11. Cody Johnson, R, 16:47; 12. Zayne Brunz, CF, 16:50; 13. James Ratzloff, CF, 17:04; 14. J. Heinrichs, WF, 17:15; 15. Dylan Berget, L, 17:15; 16. Kevin Wroblewski, R, 17:21; 17. Danny Romero, R, 17:29; 18. Will Holdhusen, WF, 17:32; 19. Brady Oakland, R, 17:37;

GIRLS

Team scores: Whitefish 24, Polson 34, Columbia Falls 68, Ronan 103.

Top 20 individuals - 1. Jessica Sagen, WF, 18:08; 2. Claudia Hewston, P, 18:14; 3. Mesa Starkey, P, 18:39; 4. Carly Schwickert, WF, 18:44; 5. Bailey Eaton, WF, 19:09; 6. Stella Holt, WF, 19:18; 7. Tegan Bauer, P, 19:19; 8. Jackie Cassidy, WF, 19:39; 9. Jinise Osborne, CF, 19:53; 10. Whitney Zimmerman, P, 20:34; 11. Ashley Grandchamp, R, 20:48; 12. Alisha Jore, P, 20:57; 13. Nikki Moser, CF, 21:06; 14. Alexas Young, CF, 21:11; 15. Madison Stolte, CF, 21:13; 16. Anne Gustenhoff, WF, 21:24; 17. Cami Casazza, CF, 21:28; 18. Jade Grey, R, 21:29; 19. Emma Marchetti, WF, 21:47; 20. Hallie Hovenkotter, P, 22:09