Drew Coco wins Flathead Invitational

By DAVID ERICKSON / Whitefish Pilot

Drew Coco hasn't lost a step. In his senior year as Whitefish's cross-country star, he looks to be dominant once again.

Coco outdistanced the entire field at the Flathead Invitational meet on Saturday afternoon in Kalispell to take the overall individual title. He finished the three-mile run with a time of 16:10.

"It's definitely the toughest course we run all year," head coach Bill Brist said. "There's a lot of hills. We thought Drew would run a great course if he ran around 16 minutes, and he did 16:10, so that's pretty close considering how warm it was. It was a nice day for spectators, but it was hot for running."

More than 800 runners from 20 schools around the state competed in the event, and Coco out ran them all.

Flathead's Leif Castren was his closest competitor, finishing with a time of 16:47. Missoula Hellgate took the overall boys team title.

On the girls side, the Whitefish team picked up right where they left off last year and claimed the overall team title in Class A with 71 points. Missoula Hellgate finished in second place with 87 (the lowest score wins). Lady Bulldog star Loni Hanson finished sixth with a time of 20:01.

"We're going to see some amazing things from the girls team," Coco said. "We have a lot of depth, and that allows us to compete with the best teams in the state. It's going to be exciting to watch."

Newcomer Jackie Cassidy, who switched from soccer to cross country this year, had a strong showing for the girls. She finished 12th overall with a time of 20:49.

"She might be the key to this whole team," head coach Bill Brist said. "She ran track for us in the spring, and she did a great job, so she's a great addition."

Brist said he's holding the kids back a little bit because it's a long season and he wants them to be ready when it counts.

"It takes us about five weeks to get where we want to be," he said.

The cross country teams travel to Ronan on Saturday for a meet.

"It's going to be fun to watch," he said. "Ronan is more of a speed course."

Kalispell Invitational

Sept. 13, 2008

Glacier View Course

Girls Varsity

6. Loni Hanson 20:01

9. Stella Holt 20:35

12. Jackie Cassidy 20:49

22. Bailey Eaton 21:14

29. Jessica Sagen 21:34

37. Natalie Kearns 21:50

46. Kelly Beiser 22:19

Girls JV

14. Elizabeth Stevenson 22:58

19. Anne Miller 23:24

30. Nicole Birk 23:53

35. Hannah Weaver 24:04

36. Breanna Leggitt 24:21

49. Megan Shaver 24:54

127. Katrina Brown 32:08

Boys Varsity

1. Drew Coco 16:10

52. Patrick McGunagle 18:34

114. Erik Hanson 20:53

127. Deitrich Perchy 22:27

128. Will Holdhusen 22:46

129. Tucker Chambers 23:07