Eureka outpaces Logger runners

Libby’s Colin Maloney won the three-mile varsity cross country race at the dual meet with Eureka Tuesday evening. Maloney ran the course with his best time of the year, and one of the fastest in recent years, said Libby coach Rod Tempel.

“That was just an amazing run,” Tempel said. “Colin and the kid from Eureka that took second were neck and neck until the last 400 yards, when Colin pulled away. That is an incredible time he posted, one of the best we’ve seen in years.”

Tempel didn’t save all his praise for Maloney, though. The other boys, he said, also performed extremely well.

“As hard as Colin ran, I was almost more pleased with the two, three and four runners,” he said. “Michael Diller, Tanner DeHaven and Niklaus Gier, they just worked hard and really competed well.”

The top finisher on the girls’ side of the race was freshman Lauren Thorstenson, who placed second. Thorstenson trailed for most of the race, but closed the gap with about a half mile left in the race. At the 100-meter mark she caught up with Eureka’s Taylor Harpe, but Harpe edged her out as they crossed the finish line. Harpe’s 20:25.72 was less than half of a second faster than Thorstenson.

“Lauren just ran a phenomenal race,” Tempel said. “It’s like a minute and a half faster than she’s ever ran before. She knew it would be a tough race and she got ready. She prepared. She’s really mentally tough for a freshman.”

Trinity Wallace was Libby’s second finisher, coming in at sixth overall.

“Trinity ran 1:33 faster than ever before,” Tempel said. “She’s still figuring out how to run fast, this is her first year of competing. I’m so pleased with her, she’s a pleasure to be around and coach, she’s just an angel.”

Overall, the team scores weren’t nearly as close as the top races. Eureka’s girls placed four in the top five and the boys six in the top eight to win the dual.

Tempel said his team is improving and this was one of their best meets to date.

“All but three of our kids had a personal best,” he said. “They worked hard and were ready to run. It was one of the funnest cross-country races I’ve ever been to, and the people of Eureka were so great and welcoming. It was great.”

The team’s next meet is Saturday in Polson, and Tempel is looking forward to the unique nature of the race.

“They put bales out, there are obstacles and they do a staggered start,” he said. “Number seven starts first, then number six 20 seconds later and so on. The girls start two minutes after the boys in the same way. This should be an interesting and fun race.”

Results

Libby at Eureka Dual

Tuesday

Meadow Creek Golf Course, Fortine

Girls

Eureka 20, Libby 37

Individual Results

1, Taylor Harpe, Eureka, 20:25.72; 2, Lauren Thorstenson, Libby, 20:25.96; 3, Tyann Totten, Eureka, 20:35.15; 4, Mckay Guckenberg, Eureka, 21:01.21; 5, Jenna Komac, Eureka, 21:47.85; 6, Trinity Wallace, Libby, 22:04.11; 7, Capree Daniels, Eureka, 22:24.93; 8, Annie Berget, Libby, 22:28.83; 9, Brooke Price, Eureka, 22:33.15; 10, Mikalyn Zeiler, Libby, 23:09.81; 11, Alee Julson, Libby, 23:17.93; 12, Olivia Friss, Libby, 23:22.05; 13, Fallon Fisher, Eureka, 24:59.76; 14, Lily Feeback, Libby, 25:52.54.

Boys

Eureka 23, Libby 37

Individual Results

1, Colin Maloney, Libby, 16:26.28; 2, Brian Sturdevant, Eureka, 16:29.63; 3, Jamie Good, Eureka, 17:10.50; 4, Michael Diller, Libby, 17:48.81; 5, Moshe Henderson, Eureka, 18:14.25; 6, Rowan Neill, Eureka, 18:24.40; 7, Garrett Bates, Eureka, 18:28.07; 8, Riley Duram, Eureka, 18:38.83; 9, Tanner Dehaven, Libby, 19:08.22; 10, Hunter Steele, Eureka, 19:10.35; 11, Nik Gier, Libby, 19:17.08; 12, Steven Williams, Libby, 20:34.94; 13, Declan Faulkner, Libby, 21:16.80; 14, Kevin Barnes, Libby, 24:29.19.