Cross country has a young team this season

The Columbia Falls cross country team is in a bit of rebuilding mode this season after graduating several seniors.

While the team doesn’t have a lot of varsity running experience, expect good things from both the boys and girls squads as the season progresses.

The girls are led by seniors Chloe Williams and Hazel Alexander. Look for good things from returning runner Noelle Svennungsen as well. She was 23rd at state last year as a freshman.

Alexander is coming off a serious auto accident and wasn’t expected to be able to run, but she was recently cleared by doctors. She looks strong and could very well lead the girls again this season. Last year she was 20th at state.

On the boys side, look for good things from senior Braden Swope, Boden Dezzani, Connor Jordan, Eamon Schulz and senior Keian Moran.

But overall coach Jim Peacock noted they’re a young team and while the squad has its first meet in Libby this Friday, the Wildcats were still adding runners last week.

This is Peacock’s 11th season as head coach and including basketball, he’s coached 44 seasons.

The team to beat in the west is Polson on the girls side and Hardin from the east.

Corvallis should be strong for the boys in the west and Hardin and Browning should be tough from the east.