X-C run brings in support

"It just brought tears to my eyes it was so cool and I think the community really enjoyed it to," said Sue Loeffler, Bigfork High School's head cross-country coach in regards to the turnout at the 2010 Bigfork River 5K Walk/Run.

A total of 267 people registered for the event — a fundraiser for the Bigfork cross-country program which lost its funding during the district's budget cuts for the upcoming school year.

With 180 people pre-reregistered for the event and another 87 signing up on race day, those associated with the Bigfork cross-country team couldn't help but feel overjoyed, and not to mention relieved.

"I was as nervous as if I was at a state track meet," Loeffler said of her state-of-mind leading up to the event.

Bigfork residents made up a big chunk of the participants and included a large number of district employees and their families as well as student-athletes from other sports.

"It was overwhelming to me to see that so many people care about cross country," Loeffler said. "I usually get pats on the back from the kids, but every once in a while it's nice to get pats on the back from the adults showing their support in what we are trying to do."

The rest of the support came from people from neighboring towns, especially those with connections to the sport, who wanted to help ensure that Bigfork's program could stick around.

"When they found out that it was in support of a group losing their funding, they were really excited to be a part of it," Loeffler said. "It just shows that there's a lot of people out there in support of cross country and what it does for kids."

Runners from Columbia Falls, Polson, Eureka, Kalispell and Missoula took part in the race to show their support.

"It was really cool to see the community come out and support us and to have so many people come down from Kalispell and come from other towns and run," said Lane Thole, who will be a sophomore on the Bigfork cross-country team this year.

Also lending a hand were 33 corporate and individual sponsors, including Bigfork Physical Therapy, Plum Creek and Crown Photography which were not named on the run T-shirt.

When Loeffler, who is also Bigfork's head track coach, first learned that the cross-country program was having its funding cut, she was in the middle of preparing her track athletes for post-season competition. Luckily, Loeffler had the help of Jill Morley, who is the parent of a couple of her runners and came up with the idea for the fundraiser.

"I have always done 5Ks and Bigfork doesn't have one so I thought it would be a good way to get Bigfork a 5K and help the cross-country program," Morley said.

Morley's kids are standouts on Bigfork Middle School's cross-country team, which is also feeling the effects of the funding cuts. The middle school does not have any funding set aside for its cross-country program as it was easy for them to tag along with the high school for little to no additional cost. So when the high school lost its funding so did the middle school.

"I just think that cross country is an amazing sport," Morley said. "When you go to a cross-country meet, everyone there is just so supportive. I don't want to see the program go away. Sue Loeffler has an amazing program and I want to see it grow not be taken away."

Keeping the program alive was important to the athletes on the Bigfork cross-country team as well, who got to see the wealth of support first-hand as they helped run the event.

"I think it's really cool that there's so many people in the community that want to support our school's cross-country program," said Evan Jordt, who will be a senior on the Bigfork cross-country team. "You don't really see the support as much during the year, but this was great to see."

The top female and the top male finisher each received hand-crafted canoe paddles made by Morley's husband Steve, who also made the first-place medallions for each age division.

With a time of 15:59, Jim Rucker was the overall winner among the men and Aja Starkey, a freshman at Polson High School, was the fastest among the women with a time of 19:30. Starkey placed 13th overall. Kayla Carlson, a 2010 Bigfork graduate who had a standout high school career as a distance runner, placed second to Starkey in 20:03 and finished 17th overall.

Between sponsorships from businesses and individuals, private donations and registration fees ranging from $15 to $20, the cross-country team garnered enough money from the event to fund the program for a year.

It costs $4,773 to fund the program annually. Prior to the event, Loeffler and assistant coach Jessica Johnson had offered to forfeit their salaries to help cut the cost by $2,635. Since there is enough money left over from the fundraising, they have agreed to take a salary though, following the urging of those involved with the program.

"I just really want to thank the community of Bigfork for all of their support," Loeffler said.

RESULTS

By age group

8 & Under Female Winners:

Kinlee Brandt 28:34

Hannah Perrin 30:10

Josie Howlett 48:24

8 & Under Male Winners:

Evan Tetrault 28:25

Colin Wade 33:44

Kavin Nocter 46:02

9-12 Female Winners:

Bryn Morley 22:46

Corinne Hamilton 28:27

Olivia Martel 30:48

9-12 Male Winners:

Micah Benson 22:50

Jake Perrin 22:58

Marco Shryock 23:53

13-15 Female Winners:

Aja Starkey 19:30

Whitney Zimmerman 27:47

Brittany Schnell 33:43

13-15 Male Winners:

Zach Perrin 16:07

Aaron Benson 19:07

Macfarlonne 20:01

16-19 Female Winners:

Kayla Carlson 20:03

Cami Casazza 23:42

Melissa VanDerveer 25:46

16-19 Male Winners:

Jesse Bennett 16:48

Clay Armstrong 17:18

Justin Whitman 18:32

20-29 Female Winners:

Lauren Jenson 24:53

Jessica McGinnis 25:24

Kaycee Mohl 27:11

20-29 Male Winners:

Zach Heslett 18:59

Shawn Callan 19:02

Julian Taylor 21:43

30-39 Female Winners:

Jenni Brown 21:09

Tana Seeley 23:18

Jonna Brandt 25:03

30-39 Male Winners:

Jim Rucker 15:59

Aaron Johnson 19:16

Mark Casazza 23:42

40-49 Female Winners:

Jill Clark 23:26

Holli Gembala 26:05

Denise Zander 27:39

40-49 Male Winners:

Shannon Butler 17:30

Mike Perrin 19:39

Mitchell Young 21:05

50-59 Female Winners:

Linda Grossman 24:33

Carolyn Taylor 25:41

Cec Egdor 28:41

50-59 Male Winners:

Chad Castren 21:08

Gary Bjelland 21:48

Bill Starkey 23:05

60-69 Female Winners:

Margie Conrad 32:13

Lou Ann Baird 39:19

Teri Johnson 47:09

60-69 Male Winners:

John Shryock 23:54

Nell Langhurst 24:28

Dunner Parazoo 37:29

70 & Over Female Winner:

Arlene Hendrick 1:01

70 & Over Male Winner:

Doug Smith 31:35

Overall finishers

Jim Rucker (M) 15:59

Zach Perrin (M) 16:07

Jesse Bennett (M) 16:48

Clay Armstrong (M) 17:18

Shannon Butler (M) 17:30

Justin Whitman (M) 18:32

Clayton Hamilton (M) 18:48

Alex Nystrom (M) 18:58

Zach Heslett (M) 18:59

Shawn Callan (M) 19:02

Aaron Benson (M) 19:07

Aaron Johnson (M) 19:16

Aja Starkey (F) 19:30

Mike Perrin (M) 19:39

Jimmy Bjorge (M) 19:40

Macfarlonne (M) 20:01

Kayla Carlson (F) 20:03

Carter Krantz (M) 20:23

Jon Weaver (M) 20:40

Ruben Castren (M) 20:47

Mitchell Young (M) 21:05

Chad Castren (M) 21:08

Jenni Brown (F) 21:09

Vinny Quirk (M) 21:17

Gary Bjelland (M) 21:18

Adam Cass (M) 21:20

Julian Taylor (M) 21:43

Paul Soukup (M) 22:17

Gavin Ruud (M) 22:43

Bryn Morley (F) 22:46

Micah Benson (M) 22:50

Jake Perrin (M) 22:58

Bill Starkey (M) 23:05

Tana Seeley (F) 23:18

Jill Clark (F) 23:26

Levi Sturdevant (M) 23:32

Mike Shea (M) 23:40

Cami Casazza (F) 23:42

Mark Casazza (M) 23:42

Trevor Bolivar (M) 23:53

Marco Shryock (M) 23:53

John Shryock (M) 23:54

Scott Taylor (M) 23:58

Brian Sugden(M) 24:07

Adam Jordt (M) 24:21

Andy Brown (M) 24:24

Nell Langhurst (M) 24:28

Linda Grossman (F) 24:33

Matt Jensen (M) 24:36

Ryan Nullan (M) 24:47

Josh Sandry (M) 24:48

Thad Jordt (M) 24:49

Lauren Jensen (F) 24:53

Jack Tetrault (M) 24:56

Travis Knoll (M) 24:57

Adam Richardson (M) 24:58

Brayden Brandt (M) 25:01

Bruce Brooks(M) 25:01

Ben Perrin (M) 25:02

Jonna Brandt (F) 25:03

Ryan McGinnis (M) 25:06

Christian Ker (M) 25:09

Mike Roessman (M) 25:19

Jessica McGinnis (F) 25:24

Cody Hader (M) 25:26

Isaac Martel (M) 25:28

Kegan Driver (M) 25:29

Colton Woll (M) 25:35

Carolyn Taylor (F) 25:41

Mark Suppelsa (M) 25:42

Melissa VanDerveer (F) 25:46

Taylor Shiltz (F) 25:47

Heather Owens (F) 25:47

Mark Shiltz (M) 25:47

Chad Oster (M) 25:48

Sam Summers (M) 25:49

Mary Pate (F) 25:51

Holli Gembala (F) 26:05

Quincy Paine (F) 26:21

Aimee Rodriquez (F) 26:42

Gus Martel (M) 26:53

Dani Howlett (F) 26:58

Chelsey Cree (F) 26:59

Chris Driver (M) 27:09

Kaycee Mohl (F) 27:11

Laura Barta (F) 27:19

Brayden Tanner (M) 27:28

Denise Zander (F) 27:29

Jordan Schlauch (M) 27:39

Mack Paine (M) 27:39

Mike Schlauch (M) 27:45

Whitney Zimmerman (F) 27:47

Brian Tanner (M) 27:48

Amber McDaniel (F) 27:52

Kelley Schlauch (F) 27:57

Lindsay Thueson (F) 28:03

Austin Jordt (M) 28:07

Beau Tetrault (M) 28:24

Evan Tetrault (M) 28:25

Corinne Hamilton (F) 28:27

Mallery Knoll (F) 28:29

Jeff Schlauch (M) 28:31

Colton Stodghill (M) 28:32

Kinlee Brandt (F) 28:34

Jeff Brandt (M) 28:37

Seth Roessman (M) 28:38

Jerri Woodring (F) 28:40

Cec Egdorf (F) 28:41

Ron Loudermilk (M) 28:57

Dillon Fraley (M) 28:58

Laura White (F) 29:05

Luke Sandry (M) 29:08

Mark Sandry (M) 29:10

Deanna Peck (F) 29:15

Forest Gallagher (F) 29:17

Matt Porrovecchio (M) 29:42

Donna Rinnbey (F) 29:46

Lisa Wall-Wilbert (F) 29:56

Colter Mahlum (M) 30:00

Jenna Egdorf (F) 30:04

Tracy Schlauch (F) 30:08

Caroline Ehmann (F) 30:10

Hannah Perrin (F) 30:10

Lisa Perrin (F) 30:10

Traci Bean (F) 30:26

Mary Duenz (F) 30:42

Jenny Tetrault (F) 30:46

Kyle Thompson (M) 30:47

Taylor Peck (F) 30:47

Olivia Martel (F) 30:48

Bridget Martel (F) 30:49

Doug Smith(M) 31:35

Cooper Barrett(M) 31:38

Jody Weil(F) 31:46

Co Carew(F) 31:56

Margie Conrad(F) 32:13

Pam Purcell(F) 32:14

Renee Wynne(F) 32:15

Jackson Wynne(M) 32:15

Jeff Howlett(M) 32:20

Shelby Scoggins(F) 33:43

Brittany Schnell(F) 33:43

Colin Wade(M) 33:44

Marshelle Wade(F) 33:45

Doug Weil(M) 33:50

Curt Wade(M) 33:53

Krystle Simonsen(F) 33:55

Kianna Wickland(F) 34:21

Rita Hess(F) 34:21

Makena Gembela(F) 34:31

Cody Casazza(M) 35:09

Brad Stodghill(M) 35:14

Hannah Barrett(F) 35:16

Ariel Stallknecht(F) 35:16

Teryn Waldenberg(F) 35:17

Renee Hess(F) 35:21

Heather Howlett(F) 35:43

Jill Henion(F) 36:25

Lauren Callan(F) 36:45

Crystal Allison(F) 36:49

Marlene Horsfall(F) 37:19

Dunner Parazoo(M) 37:28

Michael Massey(M) 37:50

Madison Fraley(F) 38:10

Ellessa Henion(F) 38:10

Alanis Stallknecht(F) 38:11

LouAnn Baird(F) 39:19

Scarlett Sherman(F) 39:20

Karen Goode(F) 39:59

Heather Massey(F) 40:50

Liana Zimmerman(F) 40:51

Becky Tanner(F) 40:52

Keaden Morisaki(M) 41:16

Craig Smith(M) 41:54

Cory Pierce(M) 42:07

Hailey Pierce(F) 42:10

Darcey Pierce(F) 42:10

Hannah Massey(F) 42:11

Abbie Fraley(F) 42:12

Tracy Smith(F) 42:16

Nicole McCarthy(F) 43:29

Cate Lamm(F) 43:29

Emma Schildhelsz(F) 43:30

Casia Love(F) 43:30

Elle Ziehl(F) 43:37

Julie Smith(F) 43:56

Deedee Wender(F) 44:58

Shelley Lingscheit(F) 45:00

Dianne Morgan(F) 45:46

Linda Miller(F) 45:47

Kavin Nocter(F) 46:02

Genovieve Gibson(F) 46:04

Brooke Bonner(F)46:04

Jenny Bach(F) 46:13

Katie Nocter(F) 46:15

Bobbie Scott(F) 46:16

Stephanie Williams(F) 47:04

Teri Johnson(F) 47:09

Phil Johnson(M) 47:10

Devinn Paine(F) 47:15

Jenica Thomson(F) 47:15

Lucy Takeuchi(F) 47:17

Pat Johnson(M) 47:17

Jeannie Shea(F) 47:18

Julie Bonner(F) 47:19

Shauna Gibson(F) 47:19

Shannon Barrett(F) 47:20

Cece Ziehl(F) 47:20

Michelle Kaney(F) 47:32

Kane Morisaki(M) 47:33

Josie Howlett(F) 48:24

Joan Pomeroy(F) 48:26

Jeannie Jorgenson(F) 48:45

Paul Jorgenson(M) 48:46

Jen Woll(F) 48:48

Kim Williams(F) 48:49

Cara Watson(F) 49:04

Kristy Oster(F) 49:05

Nancy O'Kelly(F) 49:22

Dean Ziehl(M) 50:02

Zoe Rodriguez(F) 50:23

Alisha Wilbert(F) 50:24

Emmy Wall-Wilbert(F) 50:25

Kathleen Sorenson(F) 50:33

Caroline Pitz(F) 51:07

Eda Taylor(F) 51:08

Debbie Sliter(F) 51:13

Brianna Anderson(F) 51:13

Patricia Landon(F) 51:25

Jolene Brodstreet(F) 51:26

Matt Quist(F) 51:33

Karl Sorenson(M) 52:46

Rita Livingstone(F) 52:47

Bill Livingstone(M) 52:57

Dan Paine(M) 52:53

Doug Fraley(M) 52:53

Brach Thomson(M) 52:59

Nikki Ziehl(F) 53:27

Tracy Wickland(F) 53:28

Trisha Smith(F) 53:46

Patty Lewis(F) 53:46

Sherry Easter(F) 53:46

Brooke Fraley(F) 57:06

Hallie Mcleod(F) 57:06

Lisa Thomson(F) 57:13

Julie Fraley(F) 57:14

Larry Whitney(M) 57:16

Julie Whitney(F) 57:17

Pat Darling(F) 1:00:59

Arlene Hendrick(F) 1:01:00

Margie McDonald(F) 1:01:06