Whitefish XC club strong at Nike race
The Nike Cross Nationals Northwestern
Regional Championship cross-country meet was held in Boise, Idaho
on Saturday with several runners from Whitefish High School in
attendance. Nearly 900 runners competed in a full day of races held
for middle school-, junior varsity- and varsity-level racers.
Since the meet was held following the
traditional high school season, the local runners represented the
Whitefish XC Club. The group was led by Jessica Sagen, a senior at
Whitefish. Her time of 19:47 for the 3.1-mile race distance placed
her third in the varsity girls race.
Bailey Eaton and Carly Schwickert had
strong races as both finished in the top-50. With Becca Holdhusen
(90th) and Anne Gustenhoff (97th), the team finished in fifth with
127 points. Emma Marchetti and Maya Gordon followed in 98th and
99th places.
“We were third here last year at this
meet,” Whitefish coach Bill Brist said. “I think we may have run
better this year, but it seems like the competition has gotten even
tougher.”
Jessica Sagen had a huge race, Brist
said. “She went out after the leaders from the gun and gradually
narrowed the gap,” he said. “She finished only 14 seconds behind
the individual winner.”
Eaton and Schwickert both had solid
races, as well.
“Again, the individual competition was
pretty stiff, so a runner may be a bit back in the field and still
be running quite well,” Brist said. “It was also nice to have some
of our younger runners attend. With so many seniors on the team,
these young racers continue to learn from every experience. Races
like these will make our races in Montana seem more
manageable.”
The two boys from Whitefish, Will
Holdhusen (188th) and Dietrich Perchy (196th), competed in the
varsity race.
“Both Will and Dietrich ran quite a bit
better than they did when they were here last season,” Brist said.
“The meet was even bigger than the Mountain West Classic that we
attend in Missoula. I was happy with their results.”
Brist said Dietrich improved his time
by over two and a half minutes from last year’s race.
“We’ve taken runners to this meet and
ones like it for the past six years,” Brist said. “It’s a chance
for Montana runners to see a bigger picture of the sport of cross
country.”
Running is a big deal in the Pacific
Northwest, he said, and sometimes the best teams from Montana can
compete with the best in the region.
“It’s fun for the kids to open their
eyes to such a high level of running,” Brist said. “For some, it
gives them dreams to chase and goals to set. It also gives them a
chance to meet kids from other places.”
Girls Varsity Team Results:
1. Crusader Harriers (Jesuit, Portland,
OR) 51
2. Rocky Mountain Grizzly XC 64
3. Summit XC Club 91
4. Meridian Warpath 114
5. Whitefish XC Club 127
6. Rose City XC Club 130
7. Troutdale Harriers 147
8. Jackson RC (Jackson Hole, WY)
184
Sanpoint XC Club No score
Latipac RC No score
Lakeside RC No score
Cougar XC Club No score
Columbia River XC Club No score
Challis Running Club No score
Portneuf Valley XC No score
Cutthroat Running Club No score
Preston XC No score
Canyon TC No score
Team High Altitude No score
Kuna XC Club No score
South Medford XC No score
Ashland XC Club No score
Stat Valley XC No score
3.1 Miles (5 KM race distance)
Individual results:
3. Jessica Sagen, 12 Whitefish
19:47
31. Bailey Eaton, 12 Whitefish
20:56
49. Carly Schwickert, 12 Whitefish
21:15
90. Becca Holdhusen, 9 Whitefish
22:57
97. Anne Gustenhoff, 12 Whitefish
23:34
98. Emma Marchetti, 10 Whitefish
23:36
99. Maya Gordon, 9 Whitefish 23:46
Boys Varsity Team Results
1. RumGumXC 66
2. Boise Striders 67
3. Axeman RC 105
4. Summit XC Club 176
5. Tornado TC 221
6. Lakeside Rd Runners 223
7. Crusader Harriers 251
8. Grubsnelle 262
9. Cutthroat XC 264
10. North Spokane XC 277
11. Meridian Warpath 291
12. Latipac RC 295
13. CXC Club 381
14. Ashland XC Club 385
15. Mead AC 401
(nine other full teams)
Whitefish no score
Boys Individual Results:
188. Will Holdhusen, 11 Whitefish
19:18
196. Dietrich Perchy, 12 Whitefish
19:35