Freshman phenom runs to Western A title

KELSEY EVANS | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 48 minutes AGO

Porter Shehan wins the Class A Western A Classic. Seth B. Anderson Photo.

Whitefish freshmen Emelia Bryant (left) and Ellie Ward (right) pushed each other to personal best times at the Western A Classic on Friday. (Matt Weller photo)

Marin Gignoux strides into finish during the Western A meet. Seth B. Anderson Photo.

Freshman, Ashton Lyle (right) and junior, Mason Loeffler (left) battle early in the Western A Fall Classic in Bigfork on Friday. Lyle would go on to record a personal best time of 20:05 - 8th overall for the men's junior varsity heat. (Matt Weller photo)

Whitefish Senior, Logan Covey, recorded a personal best time of 19:42 in Bigfork on Friday. (Matt Weller photo)

Sophomore, Addie Nerdig, competes in the women's junior varsity race on Friday. Nerdig placed fifth overall with a time of 24:16. (Matt Weller photo)

Bulldog Porter Shehan and Polson's Jackson Bontadelli battled throughout the day for the overall men's varsity win. Shehan would ultimately prevail and earn the top spot on the podium at the Western A Fall Classic in Bigfork. (Matt Weller photo)

Whitefish cross country runner, freshman Porter Shehan, fought to the finish and took first place at Western A Divisionals in Bigfork last week.

Whitefish boys and girls teams placed sixth. Corvallis took the boys team title and Polson won the girls. There were numerous personal best times for the Bulldogs as junior varsity finished their season and varsity will conclude at the state meet in Billings this week.

In the girls race, Whitefish was led by senior Sierra Gibb, who placed 19th in 21:35.9, a personal-best time. Freshman Elsie Snipes finished 26th in 21:57.8, also a personal best. Freshman Marin Gignoux crossed the line in 28th place with a time of 22:10.7 and freshman Ellie Ward placed 40th in 22:53.8, a personal-best. Freshman Emelia Bryant finished 44th in a personal best time of 23:11.6. Sophomore Norah Morrell took 50th in 23:26.5 and posted a personal-best time. Freshman K. Boyd finished 67th in 24:53.7.

Shehan edged Polson senior Jackson Bontadelli by four seconds to take first in the boys race with a time of 16:07. Bulldog senior Ean Flynn finished 34th in 19:13.9 and junior Peter Schram placed 37th with a time of 19:21.1. Freshman Cooper Connelly took 39th in 19:25.7, a personal-best performance. Senior Logan Covey finished 43rd in 19:42.9, also a personal best. Junior Marcus Mercer crossed the line in 45th place with a time of 19:50.2 and junior Alexander Keim placed 51st in 20:12.5.

Whitefish freshmen Emelia Bryant (left) and Ellie Ward (right) pushed each other to personal best times at the Western A Classic on Friday. (Matt Weller photo)