Carlson continues cross country success
Kayla Carlson placed third at the Ronan Invitational in 19:28. Zach Urness for the Bigfork Eagle
By FAITH MOLDAN / Bigfork Eagle
The Bigfork High School cross country teams are running full speed ahead into the second half of their seasons.
Sophomore Kayla Carlson proved that her junior varsity first-place finishes were no fluke, as she placed third in her first varsity race at the Ronan Invitational Sept. 13. Carlson finished in a time of 19:28.
"She's got the talent," Bigfork coach Sue Loeffler said. "It's a new experience for her. Ronan was a lower team meet and so we decided to see how she'd do."
Also competing for the Vals were Charlene Miller and Shelby Deaton. Miller and Deaton ran in the junior varsity race and placed sixth and 23rd respectively in times of 22:42 and 25:52.
Four Vikings competed in the boys' varsity race — Bridger Mahlum, Evan Jordt, Spencer Jenko and Philip Sandry.
Sandry placed 19th in 18:09. Mahlum was close behind in a time of 18:32 and 26th place. Freshmen Jordt and Jenko were 38th and 46th. Jordt finished in a time of 19:17 and Jenko in 21:02.
More Vikes ran in the JV race. Keenan Evans, Kyle Hauns, Alex Kirby and Chris Driver did well for Bigfork.
Evans was the first to finish. He placed 24th in 21:27, while Hauns was 28th with a time of 22:19. Kirby and Driver weren't far behind. Kirby ran the race in 24:25 for 36th place and Driver was 37th in 24:41.
"They're improving every week, which is good," Loeffler said of all the runners. She added that the returning runners from last year improved upon their times at the invitational.
Bigfork's push toward the end of the season begins with the MTN West Meet in Missoula Saturday. Loeffler said the Bigfork teams will prepare for the large and difficult meet with a lot of hill running. The meet is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m.
"Most everybody will run JV," Loeffler said. "Kayla will run varsity because of the size of the meet."
Ronan Invitational
At Silver Fox Golf Course
Girls
Team Totals
Whitefish 34, Ronan 56, Thompson Falls 83, Polson 139, Eureka 153; Not fielding full teams: Bigfork, Darby, Columbia Falls, Plains
Top 10
Heather Demorest, Darby 19:03
Terinee McCready, Ronan 19:09
Kayla Carlson, Bigfork 19:28
Lauren Kuennen, Whitefish 19:37
Loni Hanson, Whitefish 19:47
Sadie McMillan, Ronan 19:53
Stella Holt, Whitefish 20:14
Clare Miller, Whitefish 20:18
Keri Ledford, Darby 20:38
Bailey Eaton, Whitefish 20:42
Next 10
11. Kelly Beiser, Whitefish, 20:50; 12. Taylor Linse, Ronan, 21:12; 13. Beca Gunderson, Thompson Falls, 21:14; 14. Delcie Peters, Thompson Falls, 21:30; 15. Ciara Normandeau, Thompson Falls, 21:32; 16. Jeffreyanne Parker, Thompson Falls, 21:34; 17. Kaneesha Benson, Ronan, 21:35; 18. Nicole Mickelson, Columbia Falls, 21:35; 19. Ali Anderson, Ronan, 21:38; 20. Anna Downen, Columbia Falls, 21:40.
Boys
Team Totals
Thompson Falls 46, Whitefish 56, Ronan 109, Polson 138, Eureka 220; Not fielding full teams: Arlee, Bigfork, Darby, Columbia Falls, Plains
Top 10
Paul Abrahamson, Darby 15:45
Shane Donaldson, Thompson Falls 15:54
Drew Coco, Whitefish 15:55
Jacob Naegeli, Thompson Falls 16:21
Shawn Whitman, Columbia Falls 16:56
Seth Garbett, Darby 17:02
Patric Jessat, Columbia Falls 17:03
Danny Beavers, Ronan 17:07
Erik Anderson, Whitefish 17:07
10. Tripp Gimbel, Columbia Falls 17:14
Next 10
11. Ryan Sol, Thompson Falls, 17:27; 12. Nick Donovan, Whitefish, 17:37; 13. Mike Morris, 17:38; 14. Pat McGunagle, Whitefish, 17:44; 15. Justin Allison, Plains, 17:53; 16. Patrick Jamison, Thompson Falls, 18:07; 17. Kyle Felsman, Arlee, 18:07; 18. Michael Harrison, Whitefish, 18:08; 19. Phillip Sandry, Bigfork, 18:09; 20. Logan Torgison, Polson, 18:12.