Whitefish girls second at state XC meet

Whitefish’s girls cross-country team snagged second place at the State A meet in Helena Saturday with four runners in the top-25.

The Lady Bulldogs were led by a second-place individual performance from Sarah Latcham. The senior wrapped up her cross-country career with the best run of her season. She ran the course in 18:45.64, to finish just behind overall winner Samantha Mundel (18:19.70) of Columbia Falls.

Barrett Gray finished ninth for Whitefish in 19:58.16 to earn All-State honors. Peyton Twete was 18th (20:33.45) and Sarah Perez was 25th (20:45.99).

“One of our goals was the be in the top-3” Whitefish coach Sara Brist said. “We were only 30 points from first. It was a good day for us.”

“Having Sarah and Barrett in the top-10 was huge for the team.”

Corvallis won the girls title with 65.2 points. Whitefish had 94.

“The girls ran this summer and worked hard, and it showed,” Brist said. “They wanted that team trophy again.”

The Whitefish boys placed 11th as a team and were led by senior Keaton Grove who finished 26th in 17:05.38.

Hamilton won the boys title with 50 points.

“I thought Keaton had a good race,” Brist said. “There were a lot of tough boys out there. The competition was tough.”

Brist noted the performances of Eathan Potthoff and Ethan Lannaghan, who both return to the team next season.

“The boys are excited to do the work and have a chance at the trophy next year,” she said.

Class A

BOYS

Team scores — 1, Hamilton, 50; 2, Corvallis, 69; 3, Belgrade, 132; 4, Hardin, 151; 5, Fergus, 171; 6, Laurel, 194; 7, Dawson County, 211; 8, Frenchtown, 234; 9, Beaverhead County, 252; 10, Browning, 269; 11, Whitefish, 278; 12, Havre, 338; 13, Park, 345; 14, Custer County, 366; 15, Billings Central, 424.

26. Keaton Grove 17:05.38

36. Ethan Potthoff 17:23.65

53. Ethan Lannaghan 17:42.19

71. Sage Cornelius 18:06.87

92. Christian Newby 18:32.47

106. Che Roussel 19:02.11

110. Gauge Anderson 19:34.55

GIRLS

Team scores — 1, Corvallis, 65; 2, Whitefish, 94; 3, Hamilton 130, 4, Polson, 149; 5, Hardin, 173; 6, Belgrade, 182; 7, Fergus, 183; 8, Laurel, 208; 9, Columbia Falls, 233; 10, Custer County, 243; 11, Dawson County, 297; 12, Billings Central, 311; 13, Havre, 337; 14, Beaverhead County, 361.

2. Sarah Latcham 18:45.64

9. Barrett Gray 19:58.16

18. Peyton Twete 20:33.45

25. Sarah Perez 20:45.99

40. Annika Gordon 21:18.55

58. Katie Smith 21:54.05

106. Kennah Fuller 24:05.53