Off and running

By JORDAN DAWSON / Bigfork Eagle

The boys and girls cross country teams have began practicing, though this year they do not have enough runners for either to qualify as a team in competition.

Five runners are required to be on each team in order for a team score to count at a meet. This year the boys have four runners, all of whom ran on last year's team. Juniors Bridger Mahlum and Chris Driver will provide leadership for the team, especially Mahlum who competed in the state meet last year. Sophomores Evan Jordt and Spencer Jenko are also back for a second season. Jordt also brings state experience to the team from his first season on the Vikings cross country team.

Sue Loeffler, the cross country coach, said that the boys are already looking good and she just hopes they can find a fifth runner so they can count as a team.

"I think there's going to be a lot of heart on the team," Mahlum said about both teams. "There's going be a lot of focus too. We have a lot of competitiveness against each other. We push each other in practice. We know that how we do in practice is how we'll do in meets."

The girls team has three runners. Junior Kayla Carlson leads the team as a conference champion and carries the achievement of placing at state last year. Carlson said she is hoping to drop her times and get into the low-18's this season.

Charlie Edwards, who is also a junior, is expected to do well this year. Edwards had her personal best time last year at the state meet. Newcomer Halissia Hubbard is a freshman and has never run competitively prior to this season.

"The girls are all working really hard," Loeffler said. "Kayla went to a cross country camp and picked up some pointers and she hasn't stopped running since last season ended."

Mahlum also noticed Carlson's dedication this summer.

"Kayla is going to be outstanding this year," he said. "She trained really hard this summer and deserves everything she gets this year. I think she will either win state or place in the top five this year."

Mahlum also said that he thinks that Edwards is doing very well already this year.

"She has a lot of spirit for the team," he said. "I'm always proud of the people that stick with this sport. It's a lot of training during the summer. I think that Edwards is ready to surprise everyone. I can see a lot coming from Hubbard too if she sticks with it."

Carlson said she thinks that both teams look much stronger than last year.

"We don't have enough girls to make a team this year, so that's kind of disappointing," Carlson said. "But the girls we do have are really dedicated and they seem to really like it."

As for the boys team, Carlson said that they have really improved their times from last year and seem more determined.

"It's like we all just picked up from where we were at the end of last season," Carlson said.

Loeffler is having both the girls and boys teams spend more time on weight training this year than she has in past years now that there are weights on the stage in the gym.

"I think that Mrs. Loeffler sees a lot of potential in us this year," Mahlum said. "She's really pushing us hard. I've never been pushed so hard at the beginning of a season. She also wants us to have a lot of fun this year. We have two really solid coaches. They're going to help us win a lot this year."

Assistant coach Jessica Johnson runs with the team most days and pushes the team to get better, Mahlum said.

"We can't place as a team, so a lot of it is going to be about individual placing," Mahlum said. "I am really proud of our team spirit. We are really working hard and pushing each other to improve."

Mahlum said his biggest personal goal this season is to win a meet after taking second place at four different meets during his career in Bigfork. He also hopes to get a top-20 finish at state this year.

Both teams will compete for the first time this season at 12:30 p.m. Sept. 5. in Libby.

"We put in a good first week of practice," Loeffler said. "They're all working really hard. I was impressed. They are much better than last year at this time. They are much more focused."