Libby XC team times drop at Whitefish, T-Falls
The Libby High School cross country team traveled to Thompson Falls and Whitefish in the past week, setting a number of personal and season records.
Leading the way at Whitefish, Libby junior John Cheroske set a season record of 19:28.4 in the 5k. Though only his second event of this season, the time is also better than all of his events except one from last season.
Not far behind, senior William O’Connell blew through his previous times at Whitefish, setting a personal record of 19:58.5 for the 5k, an improvement of more than a minute and a half over his season start at Bonners Ferry.
Senior Lauren Thorstenson — who has been balancing her cross country participation against varsity soccer — cut almost a minute from her 5k time in the past month, setting a season record at Thompson Falls of 22:14.3. While still short of her best ever time from last year, Thorstenson’s Thompson Falls time brings her close to where she was last year at this point in the season.
Senior Mikalyn Zeiler had her season record time at Thompson Falls, with a 24:03.9. Zeiler has cut over four minutes off her time since the start of the season.
She came up only 5 seconds short of her season record at Whitefish, a time still over a minute faster than she had a year ago at the same event.
Junior Freddy Moore set a season record at Whitefish with a 25:36 in the 5k.
Sophomore Gabby Fantozzi has been fighting to get back to her freshman times, but is showing progress with a two-minute drop on her 5k from Coeur d’Alene on Sept. 15, finishing at Whitefish in 31:07.6.
Libby sophomore Savanna Sanderson also set a season record at Thompson Falls, with a 31:59.2. Even her 32:40.1 at Whitefish still represents about a two minute gain over her time a month ago in Bonners Ferry.
On her third event of the season, Libby sophomore Sally Weber set a personal record at Whitefish with a 33:49.7.
Sophomore Rhiannon Wilson ran her second 5k of the season, finishing in 33:50.07 for a personal best time, cutting almost three minutes from her previous time at the Coeur d’Alene Invitational 10 days prior.
Freshman Lucky Martin continued his downward trend for the season with a personal record of 21:01.7 in the 5k at Thompson Falls, adding only six seconds to that time at Whitefish.
Freshman Vance Ward has had ups and downs throughout the season, coming within 20 seconds of his personal record at Thompson Falls with a 24:42.1.
At Thompson Falls, the Libby Middle School team also had a strong showing, where 7th grader Greyson Thompson finished 6th in a field of 54 with a 2-mile time of 13:22.93.
Thompson Falls Invitational
Thursday, Sept. 20
(Libby results, no team score)
Boys
HS Varsity 5K
50. William O’Connell 20:26.48, 56. Lucky Martin 21:01.70, 74. Dawson Rose 23:51.06, 79. Freddy Moore 26:10.33
HS JV 5K
53. Vance Ward 24:42.03
MS 2 mi.
6. Greyson Thompson 13:22.93, 22. Sam Brumbaugh 14:50.48, 47. Cael Schwindt 17:46.50
Girls
HS Varsity 5K
16. Lauren Thorstenson 22:14.29, 36. Mikalyn Zeiler 24:03.85, 66. Savanna Sanderson 31:59.17,
MS 2 mi.
10. Aurora Smith 14:55.72, 28. Willow Williamson 18:09.20, 29. Annika Benner 18:12.67, 36. Kailey Skranak 25:10.01
Whitefish Invitational
Tuesday, Sept. 25
Boys
HS Varsity 5K
1. Frenchtown 44, 2. Columbia Falls 54, 3. Whitefish 75, 4. Ronan 79, 5. Lincoln County 91, 6. Stevensville 180, 7. Browning 184, 8. Libby 216, 9. Cut Bank 229
Top 5: 1. Joe Lamb (C-Falls) 16:42.51, 2. James Normandeau (Ronan) 16:43.90, 3. Tyler Schmautz (Frenchtown) 16:50.59, 4. Luke Lutz (Frenchtown) 16:52.73, 5. Seth Umbriaco (C-Falls) 16:57.21
Libby times: 33. John Cheroske 19:28.38, 43. William O’Connell, 19:58.5, 51. Lucky Martin 21:07.61, 56. Freddy Moore 25:35.92, 57. Vance Ward 26:03.80
HS JV 5K
Libby times: 38. Dawson Rose, 23:29.97, 47. Hunter Rehl 27:40.20
Girls
HS Varsity 5K
37. Mikalyn Zeiler 24:08, 57. Savanna Sanderson 32:40.07
HS JV 5K
30. Gabby Fantozzi 31:07.59, 34. Sally Weber 33:49.67, 35. Rhiannon Wilson 33:50.07