Maughan state champion - Ladies place fourth

MISSOULA – Freshman Sariah Maughan took the Montana High School Association Class C State Cross Country Championship by storm Saturday, Oct. 20 beating two past state champions. Not only did she win the meet with her best time of 19:52.89, she set a new Class C State record. The Girls Varsity team finished fourth, missing the podium by just four points.

After losing sophomore Caleb Maughan to a football injury, the Boys Varsity team continued to struggle with physical challenges. They finished in 14th in the state of the 18 teams.

Girls Varsity – 3.2 miles

With temperatures in the upper 40s, Head Coach Zelda Haines said it was a perfect day for a race. They arrived early to ensure the girls had a long, slow warm up before the race start at 11 a.m. The girls dedicated their race to Addy Boo Trevino, a Seeley Lake four-year-old who lost her life to brain cancer this past week, marking on their arms and thighs, "I run for Addy Boo."

Maughan followed her mother Lisa's advice to mentally prepare for the race by continually telling herself she would do well and could beat last year's state champion Averi Parker of West Yellowstone. After more than an hour warm up, Haines told Maughan to stay close to Parker.

Maughan said she followed Haines advice for the first mile but then was feeling really good. She took the lead and never looked back.

On the last mile, Maughan said Darby's coach helped her widen the gap between herself and Averi. He said he encouraged Maughan to use her arms and increase her stride up the slight incline on the backstretch and then use the momentum going around the corners and really lean.

"Since it was the last mile, I was in a lot of pain and basically couldn't feel anything," said Maughan laughing. "Hearing him say it made me focus on it."

Maughan put the distance on finishing 26 seconds ahead of Parker who crossed the finish in 20:18.27. Another state champion Gracie Lang of Darby finished third in 20:42.50.

Haines said that Maughan surprised quite a few people, especially West Yellowstone who took the second, fourth and fifth spots.

Maughan was surprised that she finished 37 seconds better than her personal record she set at Rebecca Farms, a much easier course, and 1:30 faster than the last time she ran the course at the Mountain West Classic Sept. 29. She said playing volleyball and then running up the hill behind the high school and home after practice has helped her improve her fitness. Having a good warm up really helped her at the race.

Freshman Hannah Ayers was ranked eighth in the state going into the race. She was a strong third behind Parker until around the last 800 meters of the race when she took an unexplainable fall.

"Hannah was just beautiful running so incredibly strong right with Averi," said Haines. "Unable to get back up to her pace [after the fall], she faded to 11th place." Ayers finished in 21:41.39.

Haines continued to cheer on junior Jayla Kauffman shouting out updates of Maughan and Ayers.

"She ran her fastest ever with a [personal record] of 25:21.39 for 47th of 111 runners," said Haines. This was 1:30 faster than her PR she set last week. "She certainly worked her tail off. Every time I saw her she was just giving it everything she had."

The girls placed fourth of 20 teams behind Centerville in second and Plenty Coups in third. West Yellowstone was the Class C State Champion.

"I'm so proud of those girls for giving the effort that they gave at the meet," said Haines.

Boys Varsity – 3.2 miles

Senior Logan Robinson led the Boys. He was in the front third of the field for the first two miles hanging with Darby's Donavon Chaffin who finished 14th. Having been out for four weeks due to injury, Haines said he didn't have the stamina to maintain. He set a new PR by 1:24 finishing in 41st of 114th in 20:08.08.

Senior Cordell Turner and freshman Chase Haines came in together in 63rd and 66th. Turner finished in 22:04.54 and Haines in 22:13.97. This was 12 second PR for Haines.

Although junior Levi Reinitz's goal was to finish in the 22 minutes, he still set a new personal record. He finished in 23:37.05, 12 seconds faster than his last PR, in 81st place.

The boys team finished 14th of the 18 teams. Manhattan Christian won the Class C State title.

"The boys were trying their hardest but sometimes physical limits hold them back," said Haines. "I'm pleased with the effort they put in."

Haines is looking forward to continuing to grow the program and for more success again next year.