SSHS Cross Country Runners Post New PRs

KALISPELL – The Seeley-Swan High School Cross Country teams got their first chance to run on the State Cross Country course, Sept. 9 at the Flathead Invitational Meet at Rebecca Farm in Kalispell, Mont. All of the SSHS athletes ran season personal records (PRs).

The course includes one and a half mile loops including a long hill with a finish downhill. The uneven ground cause some rolled ankles.

The athletes received print-outs that posted each mile time as well as pace and finish times. This will be beneficial to see how each can improve his or her race.

Elizabeth Done, Chloe Robbins and Amber Springer all showed whopping improvement times by five, nine and 14 minutes. Robbins also qualified for state, running under the 35 minutes required to qualify.

For the boys, Logan Robinson led the boys finishing in 26th place. He ran a great first mile in 5:46 but paid for slowing to 6:45 for his second mile and 6:40 for his third.

Cordell Turner and Will Banks are steadily improving. Each ran a two-minute PR. Lane Mackie-Wendel did not compete due to injury.

Upcoming is our race at Ronan, Mont. Sept. 15.

Results (3 mile race)

Boys (138 runners): Logan Robinson: 26th place, 19:12 – 6:24/mile; Cameron Haines: 93rd place, 19:46 – 6:35/mile; Cordell Turner: 123rd place, 22:04 – 7:21/mile; Will Banks: 136th place, 26:10 – 8:43/mile

Girls (137 runners): Cera Strumpfer: 44th place, 21:53 – 7:18/mile; Elizabeth Done: 106th place, 25:16 – 8:25/mile; Chloe Robbins: 136th place, 33:33 – 11:11/mile; Amber Springer: 137th place, 37:50 – 12:37/mile

Middle School Race – Flathead Invitational

KALISPELL – Sariah Maughan and her younger sister Emily Maughan ran their first mile and half course in a very competitive race of 114 girls. The sixth and seventh grader ran a thrilling race finishing fourth and fifth behind three eighth graders. They finished with just 0.33 seconds separating them.

Since Sariah and Emily finished in the top 10, they were rewarded with Top 10 t-shirts.

Joining the team this week is sixth grader Kyla Conley and eighth grader Alexa Sunderland. Hannah Ayers wasn't able to run because of a sore foot.

Chase Haines placed 61st for the boys out of 123 runners.

Thursday, Sept. 15, the team heads to Ronan, Mont.

Results (1.5 mile race)

Boys (123 runners): Chase Haines: 61st place, 11:34 – 7:43/mile;

Girls (114 runners): Sariah Maughan: 4th place, 10:35.56 – 7:03/mile; Emily Maughan: 5th place, 10:35.89 – 6:36/mile; Kyla Conley: 54th place, 12:52 – 8:35/mile; Alexa Sunderland: 95th place, 14:59 – 9:59/mile