The Bulldogs cross country teams raced in the Thompson Falls Invitational on Sept. 20 and although Coach Richard Menicke said the team was short due to academics as a priority and injury, the girls team took second place and the boys took first.

Five Whitefish runners participated in the varsity race and one in the junior varsity. Menicke said it was a good day for them and that they are building confidence.

Two runners from Columbia Falls, Ashley Andrews and Alexandria Oberholtzer took first and second place, with times of 22:22 and 24:36, respectively.

The Columbia Falls girls team won first, while Whitefish took second place and Ronan finished in third place.

“The boys team won the race in a tie-breaker,” said Menicke. “We were tied with Browning and our sixth runner was ahead of theirs, so we get the win.”

While Whitefish won the event and Browning took second, Columbia Falls took home third place.

“Cross country is really a team sport and it took our entire team to get the win today,” Menicke said. “Azure and Zach ran really well and were key to that outcome.”

The Whitefish Invitational is Sept 27 followed by the 7x7 Helena race on Oct. 6.

Thompson Falls Invite Results

Girls Team: 1. Columbia Falls 20. 2. Whitefish 75. 3. Ronan 99.

Whitefish Girls: 12. Morgan Grube 22:50. 13. Maggie Pulsifer 23:08. 17. Maeve Ingelfinger 23:31. 29. Maci Brenan 24:36. 30. Kellie Klepper 24:42. (JV) 11. Lillian Nelson 27:54.

Boys Team: 1. Whitefish 67, 2. Browning 67, 3. Columbia Falls 81

Whitefish Boys: 5. Deneb Linton 17:38. 8. Ethan Amick 17:54. 10. Nate Ingelfinger 18:18. 12. Ruedi Steiner 18:27. 37. Azure Stolte 19:33. 43. Zachary Chiarito 19:39.