Cross country team is a veteran squad with plenty of seniors

The Columbia Falls boys cross country team should be in the mix to place at state this season, with a lot of veteran talent.

The team has nine senior boys and five senior girls, and one all-state runner from last year, senior River Blazejewski.

Head coach Jim Peacock said the team’s depth means there’s at least a dozen boys that will be vying for seven varsity spots this season.

“It’s going to change week to week,” he said.

Blazejewski, who took 11th at state last year, anchors the boys squad. Look for good things from Aiyers Powell and a host of others who ran sub-5-minute miles in track last year and also ran some grueling races over the summer.

Competition in class A should be stiff this year, with Corvallis in the West and Hardin and Browning in the East.

The boys just missed the podium last season, taking fourth.

On the girls side, the Wildkats took second at state last year, despite not having a runner in the top 15.

They’ve lost the core of that squad to graduation, but return senior Ashley Andrews and have 11 other runners who will look to make a mark this year, including Findley Dezzani, who is a talented Nordic skier.

Peacock said the girls have a lot of question marks, but should still be very competitive nonetheless.

They open the season Aug. 29 in Libby. The state meet is in Missoula this year. Peacock is assisted by Kati Knutson and Colleen Finberg.