Lady Bulldogs score perfect 15

DAVID ERICKSON — Whitefish Pilot

Whitefish cross-country runner Loni Hanson set a Whitefish High School record, and her team posted a perfect score of 15 on their way to winning the Thompson Falls Invitational on Thursday.

The top-seven girls across the finish line were all wearing Bulldog jerseys, although only the top-five figure in the team total.

Hanson’s time of 18:52 beat the old record of 19:08 set by Claire Anderson in 1999 at the state meet in Helena. The top-five girls all finished in under 20 minutes.

This was the first trip to Thompson Falls for the Whitefish cross-country program,” head coach Bill Brist said.

“With the results achieved, it may not be the last,” he said. “The girls returned with a team victory and a lot of personal bests. The boys returned with a second-place finish and several personal bests as well.”

Brist said Hanson’s run was impressive to watch.

“She went out quickly with a 5:53 first mile,” Brist said. “That’s pretty quick, but the first mile was a quick one without hills to slow her down. The second mile she maintained her lead through the tough part of the course and then finished well while running the initial mile of the course from the reverse direction on the return to the finish. She looked great, and was rewarded for her effort with a personal best time of 18:52.”

Lauren Kuennen, fighting the effects of a recent cold, ran a great race as well to finish second in 19:15.

Freshman Bailey Eaton (19:33) and Stella Holt (19:35) came across the line next, followed by senior Clare Miller (19:40).

By virtue of their finishes in the top-five, the Lady Bulldogs completed a sweep of the top-five positions and were rewarded with a perfect score of 15 points.

“The only time we’ve ever had a perfect score was in our own time trial,” Brist said. “Bailey Eaton had one heck of a race. I had a feeling that she may have what it takes to be a cross-country runner when I watched her run an 800 last spring as an eighth-grader. She has really figured out how to handle a three-mile race.”

Whitefish’s Drew Coco won the boys meet with a time of 15:36 — also a school record. The old standard was 15:43, set by Eddie Heider in 2000, also at state in Helena.

“Drew really went after it today,” Brist said. “There was no hesitation. He went out with a plan and was determined to see it succeed. I was impressed. He was a more confident runner than what we’ve witnessed during the first half of the season. It’s exactly what he needed to run in the mid-15s for the three-mile race distance.”

Thompson Falls spoiled a sweep for Whitefish by taking the boys team honors. The Blue Hawks finished with 24 points to 35 for Whitefish.

Whitefish will host Frenchtown, Libby and Columbia Falls on Saturday at 11 a.m. for the boys race and 11:40 a.m. for the girls.

The flat, fast campus course at Whitefish High School promises to offer a great opportunity to see the teams in action against great competition.

Girls team scores

1. Whitefish 15

2. Thompson Falls 59

3. Eureka 90

Libby no score

Arlee no score

Plains no score

Girls individual results

1. Loni Hanson 18:52 (new school record, old mark was 19:08)

2. Lauren Kuennen 19:15

3. Bailey Eaton 19:33

4. Stella Holt 19:35

5. Clare Miller 19:40

6. Beth Donovan 20:11

7. Kelly Beiser 20:20

9. Carly Schwickert 20:56

15. Jessica Sagen 21:56

17. Hannah Weaver 22:20

19. Megan Shaver 22:30

21. Anne Miller 22:37

28. Elizabeth Stevenson 24:27

30. Mallory Phillips 25:18

31. Alexa Halliday 25:46

Boys team scores

1. Thompson Falls 24

2. Whitefish 35

3. Plains 88

4. Libby 123

5. Eureka 138

Boys individual results

1. Drew Coco 15:36 (new school record, old mark was 15:43)

5. Erik Anderson 16:58

8. Michael Harrison 17:23

10. Michael Samdahl 17:32

11. Patrick McGunagle 17:33

16. Byron Bard 18:05

17. Marshall Opel 18:07

23. Dylan Rice 18:36

25. Baxter Graham 18:40

43. Tucker Chambers 22:41

45. Chris Reyna 23:38

46. Dietrich Perchy 23:51