XC runners control pace at home meet

Bright green jerseys dominated the finishing chute at the Whitefish Invitational cross-country meet Saturday as the Bulldogs cruised to a pair of team victories on their home turf.

The Lady Bulldogs won with a low score of 21 points, outpacing Columbia Falls (45 points) and Ronan (81 points). Northwestern A rivals Frenchtown and Libby rounded out the top five teams.

The boys team outdistanced their competition in the same fashion as they took the top spot with 22 points. Thompson Falls ended up in second place with 75 points,

Lady Bulldog senior Sarah Latcham posted the top time of the day for girls with an 18:44. Latcham trailed Columbia Falls runner Samantha Mundel for the first few miles, but pulled ahead with a final burst. She was all alone as she made her way through the finish chute lined with Bulldog supporters.

Her time was the third-best ever recorded on the course.

“She has joined select company with the individual time,” Whitefish coach Sara Brist said.

Sloan Ellis (5th in 20:17), Peyton Twete (6th in 20:20), Katie Smith (8th in 20:23) and Sarah Perez (20:39) rounded out the Whitefish runners in the top-10. Annika Gordon placed 11th in 20:45.

“Our young ladies had their best performance of the season,” Brist said. “They are rounding into the type of competitive frame of mind to have success at our two most important meets coming up.”

The boys team was led by senior Caleb Knox, who took second place overall with a personal-best 16:16.

He finished just ahead of teammates Keaton Grove (3rd in 16:17) and EJ Havens (4th in 16:28.)

Thomas Henson (6th in 16:40), Keaton Nicholson (7th in 17:05) and Ethan Lannahghan (8th in 17:06) also finished in the top-10. Freshman Ethan Potthoff finished in 17:43 to place 13th in the field.

“Our front three did a nice job of packing up front, and our next three were not far back,” Brist said.

The Bulldog teams host the Northwestern A conference championship meet this Saturday at the Whitefish Lake Golf Club. The races begin at noon.

“If we can get the kind of support from the home crowd this coming weekend that we had today, there is no limit to the type of performance these teams can achieve at our Divisional meet,” added Brist.

Boys Team Results:

1. Whitefish 22

2. Thompson Falls 75

3. Frenchtown 80

4. Columbia Falls 103

5. Ronan 133

6. Plains 155

7. Eureka 191

8. Libby 198

Individual Results:

2. Caleb Knox 16:16

3. Keaton Grove 16:17

4. EJ Havens 16:28

6. Thomas Henson 16:40

7. Keaton Nicholson 17:05

8. Ethan Lannaghan 17:06

13. Ethan Potthoff 17:43

19. Christian Newby 17:54

20. Henry Holt 17:55

26. Santos Parra 18:05

39. Sage Cornelius 18:43

40. Tanner Brock 18:44

54. Jansen Anderson 19:31

56. Dillon Lawrence 19:33

68. Cody Casazza 20:43

69. Jonson England 20:44

71. James Heil 21:18

Girls Team Results:

1. Whitefish 21

2. Columbia Falls 45

3. Ronan 81

4. Frenchtown 108

5. Libby 124

1. Sarah Latcham 18:44

5. Sloan Ellis 20:17

6. Peyton Twete 20:20

8. Katie Smith 20:23

9. Sarah Perez 20:39

11. Annika Gordon 20:45

18. Kennah Fuller 22:04

19. Maya Gordon 22:06

25. Greta Roberts 23:03

33. Emily Lyga 23:53

36. Kate Ehrenberg 24:05

39. Sonja Ring 24:25

40. Sydney Archibald 24:25

45. Eleanor Taylor 25:00

47. Makki Haller 25:08

50. Teigen Tremper 25:19