Peacock second in state cross-country
Columba Falls freshman Kimberly Peacock powers to the finish line during the Montana Cross Country Championship at Rebecca Farm. Peacock finished in second place. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)
Columbia Falls senior Sage Wanner sprints to the finish line at the Montana Cross Country Championship at Rebecca Farm on Saturday. Wanner finished 10th. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)
Kimberly Peacock nabbed second place in the state A cross-country championship meet at Rebecca Farm Saturday. The freshman clocked an 18:30.96, just 13 seconds behind winner Pipi Eitel of Belgrade. The two were neck-and-neck the first two miles before Eitel pulled away for the win.
“With a half mile to go, Eitel made a small move that Kimberly couldn’t cover, and Eitel separated,” said coach Jim Peacock. “That was all it took for Eitel to build a lead and win the race.”
On the boys side, Sage Wanner took a respectable 10th in the meet. He bolted out to an early lead, but couldn’t hold it like he has done in previous races this season.
Wanner ran the course in 16:14.50. Carson Jessop of Corvallis won it in 15:38.95.
The girls team finished fourth overall. Hardin won the event.
Other girls finishers included: Genevieve Delorme, 17th, 19:53.27; Raina Crowell 32nd, 20:35.75; Kara Mohr 43rd, 21:05.06; Haylie Peacock 44th, 21:05.07; Megann Hanson 51st, 21:21.50; Raychel Hoerner, 90th, 22:36.49.
The boys took 6th overall. Other boys finishers included Gabe Knudsen, 19th, 16:31.44; Winfield West 43rd, 17:17.16; Joe Lamb 53rd, 17:41.80; Beau Umbriaco 64th, 17:59.26; Dillon Wanner, 69th, 18:05.15; and Bryce Bennett 110th, 19:44.96.
The boys made great strides this season. Last year they were 14th at state.
The boys lose Sage to graduation, the girls lose Haylie Peacock.
“I am ecstatic about how well the cross country kids did throughout the season,” Peacock said. “Both boys and girls set goals to bring home trophies this year, and obviously would have liked to have accomplished that goal.
“But, I feel they all ran their best efforts on the day, and the only thing a runner can control is their own performance. Those performances were exceptional. I give a lot of credit to the teams that finished ahead of us. Despite missing the trophies, I am thrilled with how well the kids ran.”