Carlson takes first in conference

By FAITH MOLDAN

Bigfork Eagle

Kayla Carlson did it again. This time it meant a little more.

Carlson finished first at the Northwest A conference cross country meet hosted by Ronan Saturday afternoon. Her first place finish also gave her all-conference honors. She finished in a time of 19:08.

"I knew she'd be up there," Bigfork coach Sue Loeffler said of Carlson's placement. "She won fairly easily. She was running pretty well ahead of people," Loeffler said.

Phil Sandry and Bridger Mahlum finished just shy of the top 10 but still in the top 15. Sandry was 13th with 17:35 and Mahlum clocked a time of 17:38 for 14th place. Both finished with personal bests.

"Bridger ran one of his best races ever," Loeffler said. She added that Evan Jordt ran well, despite having a side ache. Jordt clocked a time of 18:29.

The boys' team finished fifth out of six teams with 154 team points. They placed ahead of Libby, which had 172 points.

Loeffler said that everyone who ran for Bigfork clocked personal bests by at least 30 seconds.

"They're in better shape and better prepared than earlier this season," Loeffler said.

Four other Vikes ran at the conference meet. Keenan Evans finished in 19:59 and Kyle Hauns clocked a time of 21:32. Chris Driver ran the course in 23:01 and Alex Kirby finished in 22:59.

Shelby Deaton and Charlie Edwards ran for the Vals. Edwards clocked a time of 22:04 and Deaton finished in 25:59.

Carlson, Deaton, Taylor Schiltz, Edwards, Sandry, Mahlum, Evans and Jordt will all compete in this weekend's state cross country meet in Helena.

"Some have run it," Loeffler said of the course in Helena. "It's pretty fast. There's only one hill."

The start time is to be announced.

The junior high school cross country teams ended their seasons in Kalispell Friday. Seth Roessman place 13th in a time of 11:24 and Adriel Stokes was 9th in 10:18. Zoe Gaiser ran the course in 11:55 for 12th place.

Boys

Team scores: Whitefish 33, Columbia Falls 61, Polson 74, Ronan 118, Bigfork 154, Libby 172.

Top 15 individuals

1, Logan Torgison, Pol, 15:55; 2, Drew Coco, WF, 16:12; 3, Patric Jessat, CF, 16:24; 4, Shawn Whitman, CF, 16:50; 5, Erik Anderson, WF, 17:05; 6, Tripp Gimbel, CF, 17:08; 7, Pat McGunagle, WF, 17:10; 8, Nick Donovan, WF, 17:21; 9, Danny Beavers, Ron, 17:31; 10, Seth Wright, Lib, 17:34; 11, Michael Samdahl, WF, 17:34; 12, Byron Bard, BF, 17:35; 13, Phillip Sandry, BF, 17:35; 14, Bridger Mahlum, BF, 17:38; 15, Nathan Poukish, Pol, 17:41.

Girls

Team scores: Whitefish 30, Ronan 63, Polson 83, Columbia Falls 89. Also competing: Bigfork, Libby.

Top 15 individuals

1, Kayla Carlson, BF, 19:08; 2, Lauren Kuennen, WF, 19:23; 3, Sadie McMillan, Ron, 19:30; 4, Mesa Starkey, Pol, 19:34; 5, Stella Holt, WF, 19:43; 6, Bailey Eaton, WF, 19:43; 7, Terinee McCready, Ron, 19:47; 8, Loni Hanson, WF, 19:50; 9, Clare Miller, WF, 19:53; 10, Nicki Moser, CF, 20:04; 11, Kelly Beiser, WF, 20:19; 12, Beth Donovan, WF, 20:24; 13, Alex Noble, Pol, 20:25; 14, Nicole Mickelson, CF, 21:04; 15, Taylor Linse, Ron, 21:05.