Cross Country team hoping to repeat as state champs

Columbia Falls head cross country coach Jim Peacock is ready for another season.

A year after leading his boys squad to the school’s first cross country state title since 2009 and being named the Class A Cross Country Coach of the Year, Peacock says this year’s squad is in a better position to make a run at the title than last year’s was.

“I actually think we will be better this year. Our top four runners have another year behind them and they are getting stronger. We really should be better,” Peacock said. “The trick with the boys is going to be finding our depth. We lost two seniors from last year’s team that gave us our scoring depth and it will take us a little time to figure it out again. We have decent depth on this team, from varsity down through JV.”

According to Peacock, top boys runner Joe Lamb put in more than 400 miles of practice over the summer and has already been challenging his season-ending times in practices early this season. Right behind him is Aiden Jarvis, who had a strong long-distance track season for the Wildcats in the spring. Peacock says Jarvis has really been pushing Lamb in practice.

On the girls’ side, the Wildkats will be looking to improve upon their sixth place finish at state last season and Peacock thinks the team has the talent to do better this year.

“We have better depth and better early-season times than we have ever had on the girls’ side. At least since I have been around,” he said. “For the last four years, I thought our girls had the tools to place at state. We just need to be able to put it together at the right time and find the confidence we need.”

Peacock says the girls times in practice has been very close to or better than their season-ending times from a year ago.

Both teams open the season in Libby Saturday.