Cross country teams from across Lake County competed in their last meet before state last week. The Polson team hosted the Western A Fall Classic that had teams from both the former Northwestern and Southwestern divisions. This was the first year they had a combined divisional race. After the JV races, the varsity girls had a chance to show their skills. The Polson girls have been competing tough all year, and were trying to win the overall team title. Coming in first for the Polson team was Ryan Harrop, who finished in third place. A few seconds later, Malia Seeley came in fourth. Freshman Molly Sitter came in seventh overall, and 14 seconds later, Quinn Motichka came in 20th with a personal best time of 21:12. Tessa Nunlist, Natalee Wheeler, and Josey Motichka followed her. Even with three girls in the top 10, Polson placed third as a team behind Corvallis and Whitefish.

The boys went next on the course. Polson’s Quin Stewart was the top finisher for the Pirates with a 22nd place finish. Zach Evertz was a few spots back at 26th and suffered a broken bone in his foot with less than a mile to go in the race. Matt Sitter was 28th, and Coby DeBruin was 35th. Thunder Morales, Warren Wood, and Wyatt Benson followed him.

The top 15 placers from both boys and girls earned All-Conference honors. All of the athletes get to compete at state.

On Saturday, the team travels to Great Falls for the state meet. 

In Columbia Falls, the Class B teams held their divisional meet. In the boys race, Ronan’s Jackson Duffey came in second, 12 seconds behind the leader. Mission’s Tate Weingart came in 21 seconds after him for a seventh place finish. Ronan’s Daniel Koehler came in eighth, and teammates Nate Dennis and Kiry Detweiler came in 10th and 12th. Hunter Peterson rounded out the team of five at 13th place to lead the Ronan team to a first place finish. Their score of 45 was three better than Thompson Falls. In the girls race, Bigfork took the top honors as a team. The highest placing Lake County girl was Ronan’s Penni Weyant, who came in 17th with a time of 22:10. Her teammate, Tashyna Matt, was 26th. Shaniya Decker was 29th for Mission, then Korrie Frisk and Kaitlynn Sassaman came in 32nd and 38th. Tori Peterson, who had been sick all week, came in 44th with a time of 29:00. Mission coach Chris Eichert said all of her athletes except one had personal bests times on the course.

The teams travel to Great Falls on Saturday for the state meet.

Western A Fall Classic

Polson

Saturday

Varsity Girls Teams

Corvallis - 56 Whitefish - 57 Polson - 65 Hamilton - 100 Columbia Falls - 120 Beaverhead County - 128 Frenchtown - 163 Stevensville - 189

 Individual results

1.Schmalz, Jaycie Hamilton 18:15.47

3. Harrop, Ryan Polson 19:35.58

4. Seeley, Malia Polson 19:39.49

7. Sitter, Molly Polson 19:58.66

20. Motichka, Quinn Polson 21:12.02

31. Nunlist, Tessa Polson 22:00.21

46. Wheeler, Natalee Polson 23:26.69

49. Motichka, Josey Polson 24:23.40

Varsity Boys Teams

Corvallis - 32 Frenchtown - 76 Hamilton - 96 Whitefish - 139 Columbia Falls - 145 Polson - 147 Beaverhead County - 159 Stevensville - 200 Butte Central - 221

Individual results

1. Meikle, Cameron Hamilton 15:18.85

22. Stewart, Quin Polson 17:20.24

26. Evertz, Zach Polson 17:32.75

28. Sitter, Matt Polson 17:40.43

35. DeBruin, Coby Polson 17:53.11

36. Morales, Thunder Polson 17:53.80

43. Wood, Warren Polson 18:40.57

52. Benson, Wyatt Polson 19:39.52

Thompson Falls

Saturday

Boys Team Scores

1. Ronan 45 2. T. Falls 48 3. Eureka 70 4. Loyola 75 5. Anaconda 173

 Individual results

1. Jamie Goode Eureka 16:52

2. Jackson Duffey Ronan 17:04

7. Tate Weingart St. Ignatius 17:25

8. Daniel Koehler Ronan 17:25

10. Nate Dennis Ronan 17:33

12. Kiry Detwiler Ronan 17:45

13. Hunter Peterson Ronan 17:56

26. Andrew Koehler Ronan 18:52

32. Aden Birdinground Ronan 20:03

35. Wacey McClure St. Ignatius 20:25

(JV) Michael Koehler Ronan 20:44

(JV) Jacob Dresden Ronan 20:59

(JV) Tyler Joachim Ronan 21:00

(JV) Terrell Stump Ronan 21:55

40. Warren Castor Mission 22:10

Girls Team Scores

1. Bigfork 27 2. Eureka 55 3. Libby 99 4. Anaconda 123 5. Deer Lodge 145 6. Loyola 153 7. T Falls 182

 Individual results

1. Bryn Morley Bigfork 18:49

17. Penni Weyant Ronan 22:10

26. Tashyna Matt Ronan 23:24

29. Shaniya Decker Mission 23:39

32. Korrie Frisk Ronan 24:07:00

38. Kaitlynn Sassaman Ronan 25:22

44. Tori Peterson Mission 29:00