Whitefish cross country coach Richard Menicke is well aware Hamilton returns just about everybody from its dominant 2020 State A boys’ championship team.

He still likes his Bulldogs’ chances.

“I fully expect our No. 7 runner to be under 18 minutes by the end of the season,” Menicke said this week. “That makes us a pretty potent team if we can pull that off. We’re going in with fresh eyes and open to possibilities.”

In the early season four Bulldogs are ranked in the top 16 in Class A, led by Deneb Linton, who is fifth. Jacob Henson is next, followed by Mason Genovese — the top Whitefish finisher at state last year — and Nate Inglefinger.

Henson, Barrett Garcia and Gabe Lund are senior leaders on a team that also could get big races from Landon Brown and Ruedi Stinger.

“Deneb is the one performing the best right now, and did the same during track season at the end,” Menicke said. “He has a high pain threshold and he likes to be at the front of races. Those two things will serve him well

“Of all those guys Mason has the best technique, just very fluid.”

Hamilton is Hamilton: Colter Purcell, Colter Kurkland and Lane Cole led the pack a year ago. Beyond that Polson is talented with Ryan Dupuis, Drifter Skillicorn and Noah Roberts.

So is Columbia Falls with sophomore Logan Peterson back from a team that placed third at state behind a fleet of seniors.

“Those boys,” coach Jim Peacock said of the 2017-20 Wildcats. “Four trophies in four years: Two thirds and two firsts. It’s definitely a hit to have them all disappear at once.”

Stepping in are sophomores Caleb Olson and Quinn Clark, senior Jimmy James and junior Jonathan Blankenship.

Where Columbia Falls really looks solid is in the girls’ side. The Wildkats finished second to Laurel at the 2020 State A and return a top trio in Hannah Sempf, Siri Erickson and Emma McAllister.

Wildkats’ coach Jim Peacock is also pleased with the return of Courtney Hoerner, who didn’t race much in 2020 because of an iron deficiency.

“That’s pretty exciting for us,” Peacock said. “It just gives us one more runner other people didn’t know we had.”

Seniors Julia Martin and Evaly Hull, freshman Marisa Schaeffer and sophomore Ally Sempf round out a formidable squad. Erickson and Hannah Sempf boast the two fastest times in Class A thus far; Hardin holds the next four spots.

“Laurel graduated two seniors that were instrumental but they’re very solid again,” Peacock said. “I’d put them right in there, and the Hardin girls absolutely knocked it out of the park with their first race.”

In the weeds are Whitefish runners Paetra Cooke, Raiya McCutcheon and Maggie Pulsiver, and Polson standouts Halle Heninger, Ashton Wagner, Adison Carlson and Maddilyn Huffine.

Libby’s top runner is Aurora Smith for the girls, while Graysen Thompson and Rowen Sherbo lead the Logger boys.

Browning’s Kiara Iron Heart currently sits 12th in Class A. Jeremy Bockus and Preston Iron Heart rank 33-34 for the boys.