Create your own site

Headlines

Subscribe to our Newsletter

X-COUNTRY PREVIEWS

 

CLASS A

Billings Central Rams

• 2014 at state: Girls 12th, Boys 15th

• Head coach: Randy Chase (2nd season)

• Key runners: Girls -- Cierra LaVe', Jr.; Sarah Gibb, Sr.; Valerie Jennings, Jr. Boys -- Tate Thompson, So.; Michael Chase, Jr.; Will Hammond, Jr.; Alex Vermeulen, Jr.

• Coach says: "We have a young, motivated team, that is focused on improving each week. I love their effort and willingness to put the mileage in. We are a young team and I am excited to see the kids new to varsity this year step up each week." 

• Etc.: Thompson was 18th and LaVe' 17th at the 2014 State A Meet. 

Dillon Beavers

• 2014 at state: Girls 14th, Boys 9th

• Head coach: Betty Iverson (10th season)

• Key runners: Girls -- Kathleen Tatarka, Jr.; Mariah Mosher, So. Boys -- Isaiah Girard, Sr.; Sam Telling, So.; Bryer Anderson, Sr.; Colton Buckmaster, Sr.; Bradley Harvey, So.

• Coach says: "We have 24 girls and 18 boys out. Both teams have put in a strong summer of running and it will be interesting to see who steps up and in." 

• Etc.: Iverson is looking forward to watching the team, with numerous freshmen and sophomores, develop as the season goes. 

Hamilton Broncs

• 2014 at state: Girls 3rd, Boys were State A champs

• Head coach: Mark Albert (14th season) 

• Key runners: Girls -- Jaycie Schmalz, Jr., 4th at state. Boys -- Cameron Meikle, Sr., 3rd at state; Matt Wilson, So.

• Coach says: "We are not nearly as deep considering we lost so many strong runners from the previous two state-title teams, but we might have a chance to place. The girls will be down a bit after our third-place finish last year." 

• Etc.: Hamilton is the two-time defending State A boys champ. 

Laurel Locomotives

• 2014 at state: Girls 8th, Boys 6th

• Head coach: Lisa Condon (16th season) 

• Key runners: Girls -- Courtney Hallock, Sr. Boys -- Myles Stricker, Sr.; Tag Myhre, Sr.; Ben Longbottom, Jr.; RJ Gill, Jr.; Hunter Speiehinger, Jr. 

• Coach says: "The majority of the team has an awesome base -- they've ran a lot this summer. We are able to get right to speed work and getting ready for our first race. it's nice to not have to work up their mileage and then work on racing." 

• Etc.: Speiehinger is a transfer student from Missouri. ... Hallock placed at state as a freshman and was injured the last two years and Condon is excited to see her back healthy. ... The girls team is young with only one experienced runner. ... Condon said the boys team has a lot of depth and experience. 

Lewistown Eagles

• 2014 at state: Girls 7th, Boys 5th

• Head coach: Suzie Flentie (17th season)

• Key runners: Girls — Mandy Parsons, Sr.; Agape Setu, Sr.; Brooke Gardiner, Sr.; Hayden Brewer, Sr.; Madison Rodgers, Jr.; Kaitlyn Lodahl, Jr. Boys — Hayes Majerus, Sr.; Dylan Sipe Sr.; Ty Parsons, Sr.; Austin Brand, Sr.; Thomas Helm, Sr.

• Coach says: “Both our gboys and girls teams are running strong and excited about the season ahead. The boys finished fifth in the state last year and didn’t lose any seniors out of the top seven. Our girls team was very young and inexperienced last year but still finished seventh.”

Sidney Eagles

• 2014 at state: Girls did not place, Boys 19th

• Head coaches: Justin and Stacey Collins (1st season for both)

• Key runners: Girls -- Tessa Hill, Jr.; Tes Ler, Sr.; Ashley Ray, Sr. Boys -- Blaine Nelson, Sr.; Sean Loftus, Sr.; Zach Sommerfeld, Jr.

• Coach says: "We have a talented group of young athletes, along with strong leadership from our upperclassmen. We feel that this team has the potential to do well in both the division and state."

Read more: http://billingsgazette.com/sports/high-school/cross-country/capsules-previews-cross-country/article_448d6934-fff9-5322-bc78-0338501b94db.html#ixzz3jySD4tdP

COLUMBIA FALLS

Cross-country team has good numbers, youth

Print
Font Size:
Default font size
Larger font size

Posted: Wednesday, August 19, 2015 8:58 am

By CHRIS PETERSON Hungry Horse News | 0 comments

The Columbia Falls cross-country team has an excellent field of runners this year, said coach Richard Menicke.

"We have a lot of kids out, we should have a roster of about 30 runners," he said last week.

While they don't have standout athletes like all-state runner Samantha Mundel, Menicke said he expects this team to grow and get better as the season progresses.

Mundel graduated and will run for Carroll College this fall.

"We just want to improve on our times all season," Menicke said.

On the girls' side, Menicke is counting on youth. Raina Crowell and Jenny DeLorme have been training most of the summer, he said. Crowell is a sophomore, DeLorme a freshman.

On the boys' side, Winfield West is their top runner, with brothers Bryce and Brendan Bennett right in there.

But it will take a few meets for the team to shake out, Menicke noted.

"It's wide open," he said. Menicke is in his 20th year with the program and this is his seventh year as head coach.

This year the conference includes all of the western Montana schools, as Northwest A and Southwest A have merged into one.

Menicke said Corvallis is the team to beat for a conference title, Whitefish will be the top contender from the Northwest. The team's first meet is in Libby Aug. 29.

Belgrade Cross Country

The biggest news in cross country this season is the change of venue for the All-Class State Meet. For the first time in more than a decade it will not be held in Helena or Missoula. This year’s event has been moved to Eagle Falls Golf Course in Great Falls.

“I think the idea is to move it around the state and not keep it in one spot. Think of how hard it is on those teams up east having to travel to the west side of the state all the time,” said Phillips. “I think in fairness MHSA (the Montana High School Association) is trying to move everything around.”

Outside of that change of venue things are pretty much status-quo for 2015. However, there are a few schedule changes for Belgrade.

This year the Panthers will not compete in the annual Park High Invitational to kick off the fall season on Aug. 28. In addition, the program’s annual home meet at Bohart Ranch in September has been shelved, at least for this season.

“We scratched that this year. Just visiting with the coaches they just thought we needed to take a break from that,” said Phillips. “The meet had dwindled. It used to be one of the biggest meets in the state back in the turn of the century. And it’s become a much smaller meet, it’s a tough meet. It’s a lot of work to it. So we just thought let’s take a break and rest ourselves for a year and not put on a meet.”

SIDNEY

Leadership remains solid for fall runners

Print
Font Size:
Default font size
Larger font size

Posted: Tuesday, August 18, 2015 9:52 am

Ashleigh Fox | Sidney Herald

After their first few practices as the new coaches of Sidney cross country, Justin and Stacey Collins are pleased with the turnout and have confidence in the leadership of their upperclassmen runners. Serving as team captains for the cross country team are seniors Tess Ler and Blaine Nelson and juniors Tessa Hill and Zach Sommerfeld.

“We’re looking to those guys to be the leaders on our team, be our captains and show the younger kids, we have a lot of freshman out, so take them under their wing and show them what it’s all about,” coach Justin Collins said. “They’re a good group of kids, and we look forward to seeing what they can do with the season.”

All four team captains have gotten a taste of success, each participating in the state meet in Helena last year. The hard work put in during the summer helped some of the kids with the transition into the season, while others are just beginning and learning what the sport is all about, Justin said. Even with hours put in during the summer months, the Collins’ guarantee a challenging season, with tough competition and courses to face each week.

“We’re excited. It’s a good start, but now the real work begins.”

— Justin Collins, coach

The full team came together for the first time on Monday and looks to continue working hard in preparation for their first meet in Glendive on Aug. 28.

“We’re planning to really ramp it up this week,” Justin said. “We have to get going. We have a long way to go in a short amount of time.”

With a large group of middle and high school runners, they look to build on the foundation that has been set and as previously mentioned when discussing their coaching strategies, will have the athletes in shape by focusing on training. As new coaches, they look to keep adjusting their methods in order to reach success.