Surynt, Johnson, Nystuen, Monaghan win Boogie titles

It was a record turnout for the Glacier Bank Boogie to the Bank in Columbia Falls. A total of 441 runners and walkers participated in the Heritage Days event on a warm Saturday morning.

Twenty-year-old Carl Nystuen of Lakeside repeated as the 5-kilometer race champion. It was his third straight Boogie title. His time was 14:48.1. That was about five seconds faster than Seth Grossman, 20, of Kalispell (14:52.9). Leif Castren of Kalispell was third (15:56.2).

Kathleen Monaghan, 41, of Duluth, Minn., formerly of Miles City, took the 5K women's title by more than a minute over the runner-up. Monaghan's time was 17:50.7. Vonda Garcia of Whitefish was second (18:57.3), and Makena Morley of Bigfork finished third (19:24.9).

Eighteen-year-old Alex Surynt of Kalispell ran to the 10K crown. His time was 35:34.4. He averaged an impressive 5:44 per mile. Shawn Whitman, who will be a senior at Columbia Falls High School this fall, was second in 36:38.1. Ehrin Armstrong of San Francisco, Calif., was third (36:48.3).

Jessica Johnson, 27, of Bigfork took the women's 10K title with a time of 38:32.4. Lauren Astle, 23, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, was second (39:18). Cassi Cowan of Kalispell came in third (41:01.9).

Grossman held an early lead over Nystuen, then Nystuen went ahead and finished about 40 meters ahead. It was Nysteun's best ever time in the 10K.

Nystuen and Grossman have been running against each other for six years.

"It was good competition. We run against each other very well. We push each other," Nystuen said. "It's a good rivalry."

They will get to know each other even better this fall since they'll be roommates at Montana State University in Bozeman. Nystuen will be a junior and runs cross country and track for the Bobcats. Grossman will transfer to MSU from the University of Wyoming as a junior; he won't be part of the MSU program, but will have two years of eligibility.

Monaghan's name is in the Montana high school track record books. The Custer County High School graduate still holds the Class A state record in the 1,600 meters (5:06). She was inducted into the state Hall of Fame this year. Monaghan won six state championships in her high school career.

Monaghan is a general surgeon in Duluth, Minn. Her husband, Jim Jorgenson, is an internal medicine doctor. They have two children, so most of her workouts are on a treadmill — sometimes before or after a long day in the operating room.

It's the first time she's run the 5K in the Boogie. She's won the Boogie 10K twice.

Her mother, Joan Monaghan, lives in Kalispell, as does her sister Molly Schwarz and her husband John. He is a Columbia Falls native.

Saturday's 10K was the first that Whitman has run. "My coach (Richard Menicke) told me it would be a good idea," he said as he prepares for the high school cross country season. "I felt pretty good. It was hot."

Boogie to the Bank age group winners (5K walk winners published next week):

Female 5K — 6-and-under, Isabel Brandeberry, Columbia Falls, 40:51.1; 7-8, Jessica James, Kalispell, 35:57.8; 9-10, Bryn Morley, Bigfork, 23:01.8; 11-13, Makena Morley, Bigfork, 19:24.9; 14-15, Stella Holt, Whitefish, 20:14.5; 16-18, Loni Hanson, Whitefish, 20:18.4; 19-29, Janelle McCracken, Columbia Falls, 21:08.3; 30-39, Sonal Shah Frickle, Kalispell, 21:18.3; 40-49, Kathleen Monaghan, Duluth, Minn., 17:50.7; 50-59, Rosa Shryock, Kalispell, 25:45.4; 60-69, Lea Given, Whitefish, 27:35.4; 70-79, Sally Porcarelli, Whitefish, 38:46.6.

Male 5K — 6-and-under, Hunter Hoerner, Columbia Falls, 31:40.1; 7-8, Leo Shryock, Kalispell, 26:17.6; 9-10, Hunter Peterson, Columbia Falls, 22:17.0; 11-13, Aaron Benson, Kalispell, 19:27.4; 14-15, Zach Perrin, Lakeside, 16:01.3; 16-18, Leif Castren, Kalispell, 15:56.2; 19-29, Carl Nystuen, Lakeside, 14:48.1; 30-39, Brent Hartley, Columbia Falls, 18:46.1; 40-49, Steven Morley, Bigfork, 16:35.5; 50-59, Grant Giles, Cranbrook, BC, 19:32.3;

60-69, George Shryock, Whitefish, 20:12.2.

Female 10K — 18-and-under, Erika Douglas, Eureka, 54:13.1; 19-29, Jessica Johnson, Bigfork, 38:32.4; 30-39, Niki Dezzani, Columbia Falls, 43:03.2; 40-49, Holly Batcheller, Whitefish, 49:04.1; 50-59,Barb Hvizdak, Eureka, 49:19.8; 60-69,Lynn Rose, Whitefish, 56:34.2.

Male 10K — 18-and-under, Alec Surynt, Kalispell, 35:34.4; 19-29, James Rolfing, Columbia Falls, 39:28.6; 30-39, Ehrin Armstrong, San Francisco, Calif., 36:48.3; 40-49, Marcello Pierrottet, Kalispell, 43:43.3; 50-59, Gary Bjelland, Great Falls, 41:39.0; 60-69, John Shryock, Kalispell, 42:34.6; 70-79, Will McBride, Columbia Falls, 50:23.7.

Wheelchair 10K — David Nickelson, Whitefish, 26:44.8.