Polson Sophomore Morgan Delaney has several years of running ahead of her.

And she is already a state champion.

Delaney posted a time of 18:35.31 to place first at the Class A State Cross Country State Championships at the University of Montana Golf Course in Missoula on Saturday, October 26.

Last year, Delaney was fighting sickness and still placed 10th as a freshman.

“I was super-super anemic, and so I was sick the whole season,” she told the Daily Inter Lake. “I was kind of slower than my eighth-grade year.” 

Last spring, she took fourth in the State A Track and Field State Championships in the 3,200-meter run. Coming into the state cross-country finale, Delaney found she placed first when she wasn’t running with Class AA runners.

“I knew I had a good chance at it,” Delaney said to the Daily Inter Lake. “At the one mile, I was in third or fourth. At the two-mile, I had just passed Karis and was in first. I tried to get the lead on the downhill, but on the hill, I tried to slow it down to save energy. So Zoey caught up to me a little bit. The last mile, I just tried to keep my distance from her. I looked back a couple times.”

Zoey Real Bird of Hardin, also a sophomore, placed second with a time of 18:48.12.

Polson freshman Kimora Scott showcased young talent for the Lady Pirates, placing 13th (19:52.06) in her first experience at the state cross-country meet level.

The first six runners in the girls' race were underclassmen, and nine of the top 15 were sophomores or younger.

Ronan’s Annie Adams, a junior, placed 67th (22:41.38) and her freshman teammate Hayden Dusty Bull was 68th (22:43.49). Polson’s Reese Adams was 83rd (23:30.40) and her teammate Karly Smith was 86th (23:34.97).

Ronan’s Saellah Nomee was 91st (23:49.51).

Polson placed tenth as a team in the state, while fellow Northwest A Conference team Columbia Falls was second.

DiGiallonardo Takes Fourth

Polson junior David DiGiallonardo took fourth in the boys' race of the Class A State Cross Country Championships in Missoula with a time of (16:28.47). He was the top finisher from the Northwest A Conference, edging out Libby’s Cody Watson, who placed 5th (16:39.95).

Ronan’s Jacob Piapot, a senior, placed 15th (17:03.62), helping lead the Chiefs to a fifth-place finish as a team.  Tayen Edmo was 33rd (17:48.73), and Benjamin Running Rabbit placed 40th (17:56.52).

Jhett McDonald was 43rd (17:58.68) for the Chiefs, and William Normandeau was 48th (18:08.12).

Polson sophomore Jackson Bontadelli was 28th (17:36.52). Polson placed tenth as a team, beating out Libby, Bigfork, and Whitefish in Northwest A Conference scoring.

    Polson's David DiGiallonardo heads for the finish line at the state Class A meet in Missoula, placing fourth with 16:28. (Christa Umphrey photo)
  

    Ronan's Jacob Piapot placed 15th in last week's state competition in Missoula with a time of 17:03. (Christa Umphrey photo)
  

    Polson's Kimora Scott placed 13th in Class A at the state meet in Missoula, posting a time of 19:52. (Christa Umphrey photo)