Polson cross country has core group of runners this season

Familiar faces lead the way for the Polson boys' cross country team this year. With Alex Nystrom, Travis Hayes and Jimmy Bjorge - "the big three" - back on board, the Pirates return as powerful a one-two-three punch as any team in the state.

"They run very well together and really push each other," head coach Matt Seeley said. "You never know who is going to come out on top from week to week."

A core group of runners have worked harder than ever this summer - Nystrom, a senior, racked up 300 miles in just 10 weeks.

"There is a lot of positive energy throughout the team," Seeley said. "Our two senior boys, Reed Hovenkotter and Alex Nystrom, have really stepped up to lead."

The big three will certainly have some backup too. With seven Pirate runners finishing under 20 minutes last weekend in the Cut Bank Time Trials meet, several young runners are already nipping at their heels. Sophomore Tel Motichka has been running strong and looking to move up. Sophomore Jared Rubel has been a bright spot with a sub-18 minute finish in his first meet, good enough for fourth on the team. The team's top freshman so far, Chaz Brewer, has already earned his place on varsity.

"This group really works hard in practice and they enjoy spending time together to make the team fun," Seeley said. "Our top runners aren't scared of anybody and that will help in the bigger meets."

Coming off third place at state last year, the girls' team has a lot to be excited about this year too. Despite losing key scorers Mesa Starkey, Whitney Zimmerman and Mariah Hamel, a young, but dedicated group of runners has put in the effort this summer to fill those holes in the lineup.

Leading a talented sophomore class are Claudia Hewston and Tegan Bauer, both top-10 finishers at last year's state meet.

Hewston fired off an impressive 19:18 three-mile on the track during the team's time trial two weeks ago. She followed it up with a sub-20-minute finish in Cut Bank, earning a third place finish with her time of 19:57. That time, according to Seeley, is the fastest among Class A girls so far this year.

Bauer wasn't far behind, placing sixth at Cut Bank in 20:29. Alisha Jore (22:46) and Hallie Hovenkotter (23:20) were the team's No. 3 and 4, respectively, while Ceara Snyder (24:09) and Amanda Stobie (24:18) rounded out the team's top six.

According to Seeley, injured sophomore Aja Starkey is making steady progress toward healing and is hoping to be ready to race this year. The freshman phenom ran a sub-18 at last year's Mountain West meet in Missoula, but has not been able to shake an Achilles tendon injury since.

"For both boys and girls, we match up well with the best teams in the state so it could be a very exciting season," Seeley said. "We have some great runners at the front, but we need to work hard to tighten up the scoring. Runners one through five are always the key to high finishes at divisional and state."