2010 Cross Country Outlook
Any coaches that have input on teams or individuals for the upcoming 2010 season send me an e-mail. Contact-Paul Jorgensen
Thanks to David Solem, Jeff Hedstrom and Mark Bolt for input!
AA Boys
Bozeman should be the team to beat based on what they have coming back and some possible new additions. Flathead lost 5 from their top 7 but return Perrin and Schutt. Finding 5 runners to fill vacant spots will be difficult. I would agree with others that Skyview and Sentinel could be contenders but Helena and Capital could be in the top five somewhere.
Individuals: Matt Barker (Helena) has to be the favorite to win again this year. Jakob Woodland (Bozeman) placed 2nd so you consider him as a contender. Zach Perrin (Flathead) will also push for one of the top spots. Perrin was the 3200 meter champion in track but Woodland came within a few seconds of finishing on top. There are some other very good returning runners who could surprise the competition. Ben Vaughn (Great Falls), Troy Fraley (Glacier), Patrick Rayl (CMR) just name a few. How the summer was spent and health will determine how individuals will show by season’s end. Hopefully, the Swine Flu will not be a factor this year.
AA Girls
Bozeman should again be the favorite to finish at the top in team competition. Bozeman has great depth and return some great runners. The other top spots should be wide open but Senior and West should be contenders for 2nd and 3rd. Hellgate could be in the top bunch somewhere.
Individuals: Heidi Turner (Bozeman) should again be favored to win this year. Early in the season she looks to be vulnerable but she is always there by state meet time. Dani Aragon (Senior), Paige Gilchrist (Hellgate), Keith (Bozeman), Paige Bouma (Flathead), Nicole Reitz (West), and Stewart (Great Falls) are just a few that I know of that could be up their as individuals. It is hard to tell who is returning because they didn’t print grade levels for participants in the 2009 state meet.
State A Boys
Corvallis is about five deep, if they can stay healthy, they’ll be State Champs, otherwise it’s Browning. Browning might close the gap regardless throughout the season, They are so deep every year. Columbia Falls will run into many difficulties as they lack the depth behind their graduates. For 3rd it’s probably between Laurel and Hamilton and throw in Belgrade as a sleeper pick. Sixth and all is anyone’s guess.
Individuals: Class A is loaded with talent that hasn’t really separated itself; there is no clear winner in this group with 4 of the top 5 guys coming back. I’d have to give Jessop (Corvallis) the nod, but Vaughn (Belgrade), Tucker (Bi. Central), and Williams (Col. Falls) should be right there. Other All-State guys returning are Murie (Havre),
J Whitman (Col. Falls), and Cole (Park), all together only 7 of the top 15 return for this upcoming fall season.
State A Girls
Championship team race should be a good one. I gave Whitefish the edge, but Fergus is also returning all of their core runners and should battle WF for the title. Dawson Co. slides down to 3rd but is returning most of their team to trophy, health will be a big factor, because Columbia Falls and Havre have good team barring injuries as well.
Individual: Girls A is probably the most wide open individual race in 2010. With Rodgers getting hurt last year in the winter, I’d say nearly anyone can win this race. That doesn’t rule out any up and coming Freshman, wouldn’t surprise me, Mesa Starkey from Polson would be my pre-season favorite to win it after the impressive track season. 12 of the 15 All-State athletes return in 2010 including Wall (Browning), Schall (Frenchtown), Sagon (WF), Eaton (WF), Hanson (WF), Condon (Laruel), and Wood (Anaconda)
State B Boys
My pre-season favorite is Glasgow; they took 3rd last yr and return a very healthy head of their team. It should be close for the top spot as Cut Bank returns a bunch as well. Manhattan-Loyola went 1-2 last year, but I can’t commit to them back into the top 3, they lost too many players.
Individuals: Doug Raymer and Tim Royce are the favorites to battle for the State Champion spot. I’ll pick Raymer as the favorite given he had a better track season. Other All-State guys joining the club are Abrahamsen (Darby), Kit Mayer (Loyola), Ryan Ovenell (Manh. Christian), Montgomery (Plains), and Swan (Manhattan).
State B Girls
This was a tough one to call for all three spot, I could go either way on this one. Last yr Colstrip won it, so I picked them again because they return most of their team, but look for Glasgow and/or Red Lodge to attempt to dethrone them.
Individuals: Defending Champ as only a Freshman, Chiara Warner from Townsend returns and as the looks of it may have plenty of competition with Selene Johnson from Big Timber, Jami Johnson from Glasgow and an upcoming Freshman Layne from Three Forks
State C Boys
Joliet looks like the strongest team as they are loaded with stong and experienced runners. They return Luke Stevenson, Beau Milton, Joe and Jake Gruel. Defending champion Culbertson lost three key seniors, Jackson Bolstad, Fred Lester and Wenden Martell. Culbertson does have Kyle Nielsen and Lee Damm. Nielsen was 4th last year and Damm was 28th. If Culbertson can find a third runner they could be in contention for a trophy. Dodson could also be in the mix and should improve on their 4th place finish in state last year. They return Jimmy Martin who placed 2nd as a freshman. They also have a couple up and coming runners who should make Dodson a strong team this year. Winnett placed third last year behind Culbertson and Joliet and did so with only three runners. The Rams lost Joe Solf to graduation. He placed 6th. Winnett still has Gage Iverson and Whit Weingart. Iverson placed 7th and Weingart was 20th last year. If they can find a third runner look for them to be in the mix. Plenty Coup could also be in the hunt for a trophy this yea.r
Individuals: Stevenson (Joliet) is my pre-season pick to win the State Title, coming off a great track season, no one is likely to catch him. Others that may challenge are Martin (Dodson) and K Nielson (Culbertson)
State C Girls
Four time defending champion Belt lost Taylor Cummings (4th in state) and Renae Hepfner (5th in state) to graduation, but still returns three all-state runners. Look for them to possibly win title number five in a row. The second and third place teams, Joliet and Winnett, did not suffer many graduation losses and should once again be in contention for a trophy. Culbertson, fifth as a team in 2009, returns Chelbi Brugh (9th in state) and Morgan Martell (11th in state) but will need to find a third runner to be in trophy contention. Harrison, fourth as a team in 2009, returns Shannon Young who placed 2nd at state, could possibly be a top three finisher. Individually, watch for Mackenzie O'Dore of Joliet who will be gunning for her third straight individual title.