Cross Country
courtesy photo
Ronan Chiefs’ and Maidens’ cross-country team
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
THOMPSON FALLS — The Ronan Chief’s Cross Country team claimed the 6B/7B Conference Championship title this past Thursday in Thompson Falls by beating Thompson Falls in a close one, 45 to 48.
“We have not been able to beat Thompson Falls all season and knew that the task at hand was going to be a tough one — they are a talented team,” Coach Noelle Decker said. “However, as a team we had discussed what each person’s job/role was and what was going to have to happen to make a win possible. They couldn’t have done things more perfectly.”
The top five boys took off in a pack the first mile, with Jackson Duffey leading the race. Duffey ended up being edged out by a Eureka boy, coming in second (17:04), followed by teammate Daniel Koehler in eighth (17:25), and Nate Dennis in 10th (17:33). Rounding out the Chiefs top five were Kiry Detwiler in 12th at 17:45 and Hunter Peterson in 13th at 17:56.
Only 52 seconds separated the first and fifth Ronan runners.
“Thompson Falls placed boys 3, 4, 11, 14 and 16. That’s just how close it was,” Decker said.
Chief teammates Andrew Koehler (18:53) and Aiden Birdinground (20:03) also made the state team that will travel to Great Falls on Saturday, both clocking in personal bests for the season. Rounding out the Chief runners were Michael Koehler, alternate to state; Tyler Joachim, Jacob Dresen, and Terrell Stump.
“The nice thing about this team is we will only be graduating one senior and we are young, with several freshman coming on strong at the end of the season,” Decker said. “(They) will be a factor next year.”
Running for the Maidens were Ashley McCready, Penni Weyent, Tashyna Matt, Korrie Frisk, and Kaitlyn Sassaman.
“Despite the team being unable to earn a team score due to Ashley McCready still on the 90-day eligibility wait, they all competed well and are showing improvement each week,” Decker said.
As with the boy’s team, the girls are also young and the team looks forward to gaining a few strong freshman next year to help out.
“I believe they can become a force to be reckoned with in the next few years,” Decker said. “These girls work hard each week and the desire is there; (we) just need a few more bodies to help us out.”
The team went on to compete in the Class B State Cross Country Meet held this past Saturday in Great Falls.
With the boys’ team coming off the Conference Championship win, Decker said they had high hopes of bringing home some hardware with Manhattan Christian being held as a strong favorite to finish first.
However, the team took a blow as Kiry Detwiler rolled an ankle in practice and was unable to run at state.
“We ended up sixth — a bit disappointing to the team, but as coaches we couldn’t be unhappy with how they ran,” Decker said. Jackson Duffey lead the team with a time of 17:00; finishing 20th; with teammate Daniel Koehler close behind in 17:17 at 35th place.
Nate Dennis finished third for the Chiefs, with a time of 17:42, coming in at 39th place. Hunter Peterson again ran a personal best, finishing in 47th place with at time of 17:52; and rounding out our top five was Andrew Koehler, 64th at 18:20; a personal best for him as well. Freshmen Aidan Birdinground and Andrew Koehler finished at 19:32 and 19:47 respectively.
The Chiefs will lose senior Andrew Koehler. “He will surely be missed,” Decker said. “Having only ran the past two years, the way this young man competed, you would have never known.” Losing Kiry put a great deal of pressure on Koehler, “and he ran the best race he could,” Decker said. “That kid has a lot of heart.”
On the girls’ side of competition, Penni Weyant lead the Maidens, finishing in 66th place with a time of 22:24; followed by Tashyna Matt, running 23:44; Korrie Frisk at 24:30; and senior Kaitlyn Sassaman at 24:49.
“The girls ran a nice race, and they are also young, only graduating one,” Decker said. The coach also looks forward to adding junior Ashley McCready to the team, as she moved back to the area and was on a 90-day wait period.
Senior Kaitlyn Sassaman, the only graduating Maiden senior, has worked hard the past three years, and done some really good things for the team, according to Decker.
“She is a softball player who decided running wasn’t so bad,” Decker said. “I can’t say enough positive things about this year’s teams; boys and girls. They are a great group of kids, with a strong work ethic. We are young and look forward to good things in the future from them.”
