Polson girls dominate Western A Fall Classic; Ronan boys take third

The Polson girls cross country team delivered a commanding performance at the Western A Fall Classic on Friday, Oct. 16. Capturing the team championship behind running from the Delaney sisters, while Ronan's boys put together a strong afternoon to finish third overall.

Competing at the Wrangler Springs Ranch in Bigfork, Polson placed three runners among the top five in the girls' race, piling up just 59 points to stay ahead of runner-up Hamilton, which finished with 87.

Senior Morgan Delaney led the way for the Lady Pirates, winning the individual championship in 17 minutes, 58.1 seconds. Her younger sister, sophomore Quinn Delaney, followed close behind, taking second in 18:21.5 to give Polson a sweep of the top two positions.

The Lady Pirates weren't finished there.

Eighth-grader Sara Dumouchel continued her impressive season, crossing the finish line fifth overall in 19:34.8 to give Polson three runners among the race's elite.

Freshman Taryn Cochran added a 12th-place performance in 20:40.3, while junior Kimora Scott rounded out Polson's five scoring runners with a 39th-place finish in 22:49.9.

The Lady Pirates' combination of front-running talent and depth proved too much for the competition, as Hamilton finished 28 points back in second.

Columbia Falls took third with 94 points, followed by Corvallis with 95 and Libby with 99.

While Polson's girls stole the spotlight in the team standings, the Pirates also produced one of the day's best individual performances in the boys competition.

Senior Jackson Bontadelli battled Whitefish freshman Porter Shehan near the front of the field, ultimately taking second in 16:11.7, just 4.7 seconds behind Shehan's winning time of 16:07.0.

Bontadelli finished comfortably ahead of third-place Cody Watson of Libby, who crossed in 16:34.0.

Polson's Trenton Couture placed 19th in 18:33.7, followed by Wyatt Boogerd in 23rd at 18:40.3.

Galen Berg finished 73rd in 22:55.4, King McKinney was 74th in 22:55.7 and Brantly Caye followed in 75th at 23:00.1.

The Pirates finished seventh in the team standings with 167 points.

For Ronan, the Chiefs used a balanced effort to secure third place among the 10 scoring teams.

Senior Will Normandeau led Ronan with an 11th-place finish in 18:00.9, while fellow senior Matiya Nenemay followed in 13th at 18:06.6.

The Chiefs also received strong contributions from Payton McElderry, who took 25th in 18:43.6, and freshman Tyler Buhr, who crossed just behind him in 26th at 18:47.2. Both recorded personal-best times.

Senior Benjamin Running Rabbit completed Ronan's scoring five, finishing 33rd in 19:05.1.

Tashawn Edmo added a 38th-place finish in 19:24.9, while Isaiah Phoenix was 42nd in 19:41.3.

Ronan totaled 99 points, finishing just eight behind runner-up Columbia Falls, which scored 91.

Corvallis claimed the boys team championship with 49 points, placing five runners among the top 16 scoring finishers. Libby finished fourth with 112 points, followed by Browning with 116 and Whitefish with 139.

On the girls' side, Ronan finished 11th with 285 points.

Sophomore Emma Heiner paced the Maidens, taking 38th overall in a personal-best 22:46.8.

Freshman Lanaeya Eppinette followed in 51st at 23:37.3, while senior Jenadei Ellsworth finished 57th in a personal best 24:11.7. 

    Polson’s Jackson Bontadelli and Whitefish’s Porter Shehan compete in the Western A Fall Classic on Oct. 16. (Jason Delaney photo)

 Polson Runners Morgan Delaney Quinn Delaney make their way around the course at the Western A Fall Classic on Oct. 16. (Jason Delaney photo)

 The Lady Pirates jump with excitement after capturing the team championship at the Western A Fall Classic. (Kyo Shizuku photo)