Cross country teams finish 3rd in Thompson Falls
Bulldog sophomore Landon Brown runs to a time of 18:46 at the Thompson Falls cross country meet on Thursday. (Matt Weller photo)
Whitefish's Madison Ward competes at the Thompson Falls Invitational on Thursday. (Matt Weller photo)
Whitefish freshman Rachel Wilmot finished as the top Lady Bulldog on the day with a time of 22:25. Her performance earned her eighth overall. (Matt Weller photo)
Bulldog Deneb Linton leads the boys varsity race during the opening stages of the race at the Thompson Falls Invitational on Thursday. (Matt Weller photo)
The Whitefish boys and girls cross country teams both ran to a third-place finish as a team at the Thompson Falls Invitational on Thursday.
The teams have been battling injuries and other factors for several weeks now and more runners continue to step up as the Class A cross country season passes the halfway point.
The Whitefish girls runners have been badly affected by illness, injury and other conflicts this season according to head coach Richard Menicke. But despite the issues young runners have risen to the challenge. In only her second race ever, freshman Rachel Wilmot ran the fastest time for Whitefish in the varsity girls race. Wilmot came in eighth with a time of 22:25.79, another personal best for her, shaving over 40 seconds off her time from the previous week.
“Rachel Wilmot continues to impress, placing ninth in a strong field in only her second race,” Menicke said.
Sophomore Morgan Grube was the next fastest for Whitefish, placing 11th. Bulldogs Maggie Pulsifer and Raiya McCutcheon also had fine races, both with PRs.
“I saw improvement in all athletes, notably varsity athletes Pulsifer and McCutcheon, who both ran season best times,” the coach recalled.
On the boys side, Bulldog senior Jacob Henson and sophomore Deneb Linton continued strong seasons coming in eighth and 11th respectively.
“Henson and Linton continue to lead the team,” Menicke said. “Both challenged the leaders early, but fell back in the second mile.”
Menicke added that the boys ran well overall, but the field of runners was stout — Hamilton continued to be a tough opponent and Bigfork put out an amazing effort to get in front of the Bulldogs. Whitefish came in third as a team while Hamilton took first and Bigfork was second.
The coach also added that Whitefish’s Landon Brown had a PR which was a major improvement as far as team scores go.
“Landon Brown ran his best of the season to be our No. 4 finisher,” Menicke said. “That’s huge because of our need to close the gap from our No. 3 to our No. 4 through 7.”
Finishing just ahead of Brown was Bulldog senior Barret Garcia who was the third fastest for Whitefish. Garcia finished in 21st place overall and Brown came in 22nd place.
The Bulldogs were set to host their home invitational for Whitefish Homecoming week at WLGC on Tuesday after press time.
Then on Saturday the team will compete in Polson at noon.
Thompson Falls Invite
Thursday
BOYS
Team results
- Hamilton 28; 2. Bigfork 86; 3. Whitefish 89; 4. Columbia Falls 119; 5. St. Ignatius 145; 6. Lincoln County 146; 7. Polson 157; 8. Thompson Falls 178; 9. Loyola-Sacred Heart 206; 10. Powell County 275; 11. Two Eagle River 325
Individual Whitefish results
- Jacob Henson 17:58.01
- Deneb Linton 18:08.15
- Barrett Garcia 18:46.15
- Landon Brown 18:46.98
- Nate Inglefinger 19:10.32
- Ruedi Steiner 19:10.76
GIRLS
Team results
- Columbia Falls 24; 2. Hamilton 47; 3. Whitefish 52; 4. Powell County 94; 5. Arlee 142; 6. Two Eagle River 167
Individual Whitefish results
- Rachel Wilmot 22:25.79
- Morgan Grube 22:38.64
- Maggie Pulsifer 23:45.47
- Raiya McCutcheon 23:45.58
- Madison Ward 25:28.58
- Marina Nugent 25:36.10
