Harriers could have best team in years

By CHRIS PETERSON

Hungry Horse News

The Columbia Falls cross country team — particularly the boy's squad — could be one of the strongest in recent years.

"This is probably one of our better teams in many, many years," coach Stephen Gasche said.

The boys' squad includes Tripp Gimbel, Patric Jessat and Shawn Whitman. Whitman was all-conference in track and Gimbel and Jessat were all-conference in track and cross country. Whitman and Jessat are just sophomores. Gimbel is a junior.

"They will definitely be our team leaders," Gasche said.

On the girls' side, returning runners Nikki Elek, a junior, and seniors Addie Houle, Anna Downen and Chelsea Marjerrison were all varsity runners last season.

They've been practicing in the off season and Gasche expects improvement from them this season.

They'll hit the course this Friday (Aug. 24) at a time trial at the Flathead Cross Country course.

"That race will determine who starts varsity for us at Libby," Gasche said.

That meet is Friday, Aug. 31, starting at 1 p.m.

Right now the CFHS team has 26 members, nine of them on the boys' squad.

Last year the boys were second in conference and fourth at state. The girls were in the middle of the pack and didn't have their best season.

Gasche has been coaching cross country here for 24 years and is assisted by Richard Menicke, who primarily coaches the boys' squad.

Smoke from area wildfires hasn't bothered practices much. The smoke hasn't been as thick in the mornings when the team is out running at 7 a.m.

They had to cut just one practice short — last Friday's because of smoke.