Boys earn second at X-C divisional

The boys team took second and the girls team took fourth as Columbia Falls had a solid showing at the divisional cross country meet in Pablo last Saturday (Oct. 13).

Leading the boys was sophomore Patric Jessat, who took third overall with a time of 16:24. He was followed by teammate Shawn Whitman, who ran 16:50 for fourth, and Tripp Gimbel took sixth with a 17:08.

On the girls side, frosh Nicki Moser was 10th with a time of 20:04. Tessa Cowan, who is usually the team's second fastest runner, didn't compete because of a calf injury. Cowman is expected to run in the state meet this Saturday.

"Moser fought her way into the top 10. She ran much of the race in 12th place and had to make up approximately a 50-yard deficit in the last mile to clinch her top-10 finish and All-Conference honorable mention," coach Steve Gasche said. "She ran an amazing last mile. I am also excited for the chances of Patric, Shawn, Tripp and Nicki to compete for All-State honors this Saturday (Oct. 20) at the state championship meet."

Also scoring for the boys were Michael Kruse, who finished 19th in a time of 18:02 and freshman Pascal Jessat who placed 29th in his season-best time of 18:21. Frosh Kodiak Gimbel finished 33rd in a time of 18:44 and junior Tim Chopper was 38th in a time of 19:20. Other Wildcat finishers for the boys included Jacob Silva (40th) in 19:31, Tony Bowers (42nd) in 19:38, Bruce Bennett (45th) in 20:00, Devin Iverson (50th) in 21:00, Tommy Wright (52nd) in 21:11, and Michael Pachnik (22:13) in 22:13.

On the girls side, scoring runners included junior Nicole Mickelson, who placed 14th in her career fastest time of 21:04; senior Anna Downen, who finished 19th in a time of 21:34; freshman Alexas Young, who was 21st in her season-best time of 21:57; and senior Addie Houle, who finished in 23rd with her season-best time of 21:57. The final two varsity finishers were freshman Madison Stolte, who was 25th in 22:20 and senior Chelsey Marjerrison who was 30th in 23:12.

Other Wildkat finishers were Laura Burgess (46th), 25:36; Whitney Chivers (48th), 26:25; and Gabriele Freeman (50th), 30:31.

Whitefish won both divisions of the meet.

The state championship meet will be held at the Bill Roberts Memorial Golf Course in Helena. It is located across the railroad tracks from Carroll College. Class A boys will race at 1:10 p.m. and the Class A girls race is at 2:10 p.m.

The girls lineup will be Moser, Cowen, Mickelson, Downen, Young, Houle and Stolte. The boys will have both Jessat brothers, both Gimbel brothers, Whitman and Chopper in their lineup.

Vandenburg repeats as Le Grizz champ Borgmann leads ladies in ultramarathon

By JOE SOVA

Hungry Horse News

It was Brian Vandenburg of Spokane who repeated as overall champion of the 26th annual Le Grizz Ultramarathon along the shore of Hungry Horse Reservoir on Saturday (Oct. 13), but it was a woman — Kendra Borgmann of Missoula — who was the talk of the 50-mile footrace.

The 24-year-old Vandenburg covered the course in 6 hours, 36 minutes, 1 second. But Borgmann, running her first Le Grizz, closed the gap on him over the last 10 miles — finishing just 3 1/2 minutes behind in 6:40:33. That was the second fastest time women's time ever as the 39-year-old Borgmann missed the record set by Bobbie Pomroy of Clancy in 1985 by less than three minutes.

According to race director Pat Caffrey, a record 85 runners from 14 states and four Canadian provinces completed the Le Grizz. Twenty-eight of the finishers had never run 50 miles before. The Le Grizz is USA Track & Field Montana's 50-mile championship.

While Borgmann took Montana honors among the women, Andrew Gideon of Thompson Falls posted a time of 8:33:55 as the first Montanan in the Men's Open Division. Montana Masters winners were Allie Wood (11:22:04) of Red Lodge for the ladies, and Mark Tarr (7:16:48) of Columbia Falls for the men.

In the Masters Division for runners ages 40-49, Charles Corfield of Boulder, Colo., placed first in 6:53:43. He was third overall. John Hallsten of Helena, who was ninth overall, took the Seniors Division (age 50+) in 7:57:50.

Francesca Hankins of Spokane took the Masters Division in 8:26:43. Cindy Weaver of Whitefish was the first Seniors runner in 9:49:42. Both were competing in their first 50-mile race.

Three 10 Bears plaque clocks were awarded to runners who completed their 10th Le Grizz. One went to Pam Naugle, who now lives in Helena, and a matched pair went to Joy and Byron Chikinda of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Two 10 Cubs plaque clocks were awarded to event staff for completing 10 years of service. Steve Bolling received one as massage therapist, and John and Evelyn Pacheco received one for managing course checkpoints.

In just his second Le Grizz, Vandenburg has run a total of eight 50-kilometer races and the two 50-mile events.

"I've been kind of hurt (calf injury) and third this year," Vandenburg said after the Le Grizz on Saturday. "I'm pretty happy with how I ran. The girl [Borgmann] made me kinda nervous.

"I really like these longer runs," he added, saying he really enjoys the scenery along the Le Grizz course, which turns from gravel to pavement along the way.

"It didn't get real ugly for me until the last 10 miles," Vandenburg said of how he felt during the race. "She (Borgmann) was closing and I was dying."

Borgmann's first comment after the race was the beauty along the course, but she said it was "very, very difficult. I pushed myself as hard as I could. I put every ounce of energy into it."

Borgmann won the Elkhorn 50-mile race outside Helena in early August with a course record of 10 hours, 44 minutes on a very tough course.

Tarr, nicknamed "Tar Baby" by a close friend, was second overall last year and came in fifth this time.

The 48-year-old Corfield, a true Englishman, said that just a week before the Le Grizz he was in England — in a cave with his mother, who was with him Saturday.

Tim Arrington of Driggs, Idaho, was fourth overall (7:02:05). Andrew Matulionis of Whitefish was eighth (7:48:25).

The Cheetah Herders Athletic Club of Seeley Lake sponsored the Le Grizz Ultramarathon, assisted by the Kalispell Special Olympics, North Valley Search and Rescue and local volunteers.

More information on the event can be found at www.cheetahherders.com.