Racing in the rain

Racing through alternating sunshine and rain along the hills of Rebecca Farm in Kalispell, the Whitefish girls cross country team claimed a second place finish in Class A during the Montana High School Association all-class state cross country meet on Saturday.

The Lady Bulldogs finished just six points behind state champion Hardin.

Two Whitefish runners earned all state honors for placing in the individual top 15. Ella Greenberg took 12th with a time of 19:28 and Braya Hobson finished just a second after for 13th. Joesphine Vardell took 22nd (20:08), Jessica Henson 23rd (20:12) and Katie Arterburn 27th (20:27) for Whitefish.

Hardin took first with a combined score of 91. Whitefish finished with 97 points for second and Corvallis took third with a score of 115.

“The kids really laid it on the line and ran so well, I am very proud of how they competed. Hardin was just a wee bit better on this day,” head coach Richard Menicke said. “The silver lining is that our top five finishers all return next year.”

For the boys, Ethan Potthoff was Whitefish’s top finisher at 30th, with a time of 16:58.

“Ethan went for it,” Menicke said. “He ran the fastest mile of his life in mile one and did amazing to hold on to stay under 17 minutes.”

Menicke also noted Sage Cornelius’ “gutty performance.” Cornelius came in at 40th with a time of 17:15.

Frenchtown claimed the Class A boys title, followed by Corvallis in second and Lewistown in third.

Seniors on the team include Potthoff, Cornelius and Adia Saurey.

“It was a great season for a very young team. We had fun, the kids worked hard and there is much to celebrate,” Menicke said.

Class A

Boys

Team Scores — Frenchtown 66, Corvallis 72, Fergus (Lewistown) 102, Laurel 146, Belgrade 148, Columbia Falls 189, Hardin 217, Hamilton 245, Polson 269, Whitefish 273, Havre 283, Dawson County (Glendive) 307, Beaverhead County (Dillon) 326, Browning 358, Sidney 399, Custer County (Miles City) 425, Park (Livingston) 431, Billings Central 491.

Individuals — 1, Carson Jessop, Corvallis, 15:39.0; 2, Sawyer Degen, Belgrade, 15:47.6; 3, Jaiden Rowe, Frenchtown, 15:51.8; 4, Matt Wilson, Hamilton, 16:00.1; 5, Jacob Grinwis, Belgrade, 16:01.0; 6, Noah Majerus, Fergus, 16:08.6; 7, Anton Rides Horse, Hardin, 16:11.2; 8, Levi Taylor, Laurel, 16:13.0; 9, Brock Rugg, Frenchtown, 16:13.1; 10, Sage Wanner, Columbia Falls, 16:14.5; 11, Tate Thompson, Billings Central, 16:14.8; 12, Andrew Jessop, Corvallis, 16:15.4; 13, Ben Longbottom, Laurel, 16:16.0; 14, Sam Fulbright, Fergus, 16:19.8; 15, Anders Watt, Corvallis, 16:20.3;

30, Ethan Potthoff, Whitefish, 16:58.8; 40, Sage Cornelius, Whitefish, 17:15.0; 62, Josh Weller, Whitefish, 17:53.5; 70, Bridger Gaertner, Whitefish, 18:05.6; 71, Josiah Holien, Whitefish, 18:06.9; 72, Chris Sheehan, Whitefish, 18:07.0;

Girls

Team Scores — Hardin 91, Whitefish 97, Corvallis 115, Columbia Falls 138, Polson 152, Belgrade 198, Hamilton 222, Beaverhead County (Dillon) 251, Fergus (Lewistown) 272, Dawson County (Glendive) 285, Havre 292, Browning 309, Frenchtown 326, Laurel 352, Custer County (Miles City) 367, Stevensville 385, Sidney 425, Billings Central 559.

Individuals — 1, Pipi Eitel, Belgrade, 18:17.5; 2, Kimberly Peacock, Columbia Falls, 18:31.0; 3, Beatrix Frissell, Polson, 18:49.2; 4, Sarah Passey, Hamilton, 18:58.4; 5, Morgan Vosler, Custer County, 19:11.6; 6, Madisan Chavez, Hardin, 19:22.3; 7, Emily Kuehn, Dawson County, 19:24.5; 8, Jaycie Schmalz, Hamilton, 19:24.8; 9, Bree Lewis, Corvallis, 19:26.3; 10, Kendyl Pierson, Park, 19:26.6; 11, Molly Sitter, Polson, 19:28.6; 12, Ella Greenberg, Whitefish, 19:28.9; 13, Braya Hobson, Whitefish, 19:29.1; 14, Charlie Bellrock, Hardin, 19:34.5; 15, Mei Li Stevens, Hardin, 19:38.4;

22, Josephine Vardell, Whitefish, 20:08.7; 23, Jessica Henson, Whitefish, 20:12.6; 27, Katie Arterburn, Whitefish, 20:27.7; 35, Jessica McCoy, Whitefish, 20:41.3;