Blackhawks shaving time

MISSOULA – The Seeley-Swan High School Cross County team took to the course at Big Sky for the Missoula Coaches Invite, Sept. 5 with 10 other teams. All the racers cut at least two minutes off their time from the Deer Lodge meet.

Each field was organized by grade instead of split by boys and girls. Sophomores Hannah Ayers and Chase Haines ran together for the entire sophomore/junior race before Haines outkicked Ayers at the end.

Haines finished 55 of 94 boys in 22:25.55 posting a 7:14 mile time. He beat Hot Springs' Kawika Ilac who finished less than a half a second behind him.

Ayers was right behind Haines finishing in 22:30.67 placing 14 of 73 with a 7:16 mile pace. Ayers beat Emmaline Derry of Hellgate by three seconds. Even though they weren't in the same race, Ayers' time was 14 seconds faster than Darby's past state champion senior Gracie Lang.

Senior Levi Reinitz showed the biggest improvement cutting two and half minutes off his Deer Lodge race time. He finished in 23:27.42, 7:34 per mile, placing 29 out of 32 in the field.

"He along with Hannah thought he ran the first mile too fast but I assured him that it was his fastest time," said Head Coach Zelda Haines.

The only middle schooler on the team this year is seventh grader Sam Ayers.

"Sam was encouraged to go out at a faster pace resulting in a sparkling 6:44 per mile," said Coach Haines.

Ayers beat Kade Bowles of Corvallis by three seconds.

This week the Blackhawks competed in Mission Tuesday, Sept. 10 and head up to Kalispell Saturday, Sept. 14.