Glacier’s Owen Thiel and Lauren Bissen claimed individual victories in Wednesday’s Glacier Invite cross country meet at Rebecca Farm. 

Thiel came home in 16 minutes, 1.74 seconds — 12 seconds ahead of second place finisher Robbie Nuila of Flathead. 

“I wanted to go out and hold 4:55s and I came through the first mile in 4:54,” Thiel said of his race pace. “That first hill kind of took it out of me and I started slowing down a little bit, but I got it back together and brought it home in the last mile.” 

“It was a good race,” Nuila said. “I finally feel back together, we have been fighting some sickness. This race just came together nicely everything felt great.” 

Flathead’s Kasen Kastner finished in third with Glacier’s Gabe Ackerly in fourth and Braves teammate Brodyn DeShaw rounding out the top five with a personal best 16 minutes, 49.64 seconds. 

Flathead snagged the team title with 25 points, Glacier in second at 30 and Cut Bank in third with 85. 

“Our focus today was to just go out and race,” Flathead coach Jesse Rumsey said. “I am really happy with how they did that, both on the boys and girls sides.” 

On the girls side, Bissen finished in 18 minutes, 59.74 seconds ahead of Flathead’s Josie Wilson. Bissen and Wilson ran with each other for the majority of the race before Bissen pulled away in the final stretch. 

“I was really just hanging on with Josie and then the last half mile I was going to kick it up and go for it,” Bissen said. 

“(The race) went well and I was happy with my time for my final race at Rebecca Farm,” Wilson said. “Running with Lauren is super fun; she is super nice. It was just really nice to have someone to run with today, especially on this lonely course.” 

Bravette freshman Everett finished third with Glacier’s Anna Tretter in fourth with a season best 20:06.76. Cut Bank’s Stella Wahl closed out the top five with a personal best 20:11.77. 

Flathead edged out Glacier for the team title by one point — 30-to-31 — and Cut Bank finished third with 71 points. 

“I think it was a good check in before state, a lot of solid racing,” Glacier coach Cody Moore said. “I think it’s special (racing at home), it feels like a time where they get to be recognized.” 

The Glacier Invite is the final meet for Glacier and Flathead ahead of the state cross country meet in Missoula on October 26th. 

Glacier Invitational 

Rebecca Farm 

BOYS 

Team results — 1, Flathead 25; 2, Glacier 30; 3, Cut Bank 85. 

Individual top 15 — 1, Owen Thiel, Gla. 16:01.74; 2, Robbie Nuila, Fla. 16:13.23; 3, Kasen Kastner, Fla. 16:27.44; 4, Gabe Ackerly, Gla. 16:42.82; 5, Brodyn DeShaw, Fla. 16:49.64; 6, Jude Sparkman, Gla. 17:02.58; 7, Ryker Zuffelato, Fla. 17:05.65; 8, Carson Thorne, Fla. 17:11.51; 9, Jack Syverson, Gla. 17:16.79; 10, Nathan Turner, Gla. 17:19.08; 11, Brogan Lancaster, Gla. 17:27.26; 12, Chris Holland, Fla. 17:31.39; 13, Jacob Johnson, Fla. 17:56.05; 14, Max Mangold, Gla. 18:15.90; 15, Max Gannon, CB 19:23.99. 

GIRLS 

Team results — 1, Flathead 30; 2, Glacier 31; 3, Cut Bank 71. 

Individual top 15 — 1, Lauren Bissen, Gla. 18:59.74; 2, Josie Wilson, Fla. 19:15.85; 3, Everett Holland, Fla. 19:56.63; 4, Anna Tretter, Gla. 20:06.76; 5, Stella Wahl, CB 20:11.77; 6, Emery Eash, Fla. 20:18.58; 7, Alyssa Vollertsen, Gla. 20:30.83; 8, Lindy Porter, Fla. 20:39.32; 9, Dacia Benkleman, Gla. 21:08.66; 10, Miel Newton, Gla. 21:09.82; 11, Marley Bain, Fla. 22:02.58; 12, Akiyah Hardman, Fla. 22:12.43; 13, Margo Cummings, Fla. 22:35.33; 14, Emma Daniel, Gla. 22:56.84; 15, Mylee Barry, CB 23:22.72.