Osborne crushes school record

Derrick Williams won the boys race and Jinise Osborne shattered the school record as both Columbia Falls cross country teams had stellar performances at the Whitefish Invitational last Saturday.

Osborne’s time of 19:19 bested the school record of 19:31 held by Elaine Lucky in 1987. The boys won the meet and the girls came in second.

“Jinise is having a great season and this is a goal she’s been working on,” said coach Richard Menicke. “I’m extremely happy for her.”

Osborne stuck with Whitefish’s Bailey Eaton through the race and her kick at the end put her ahead of Eaton right at the tape.

Osborne took second overall in the girls’ race. Jessica Sagen of Whitefish won with a 18:40.

Williams stayed with Plains’ Carter Montgomery for most of the race and then broke away at the end for the victory. Williams ran a 16:17 and teammate Justin Whitman took third with a 16:38.

“Derrick’s got the goods. He’s a talented young man. He ran a smart race and he ran to win,” said Menicke.

Menicke also had praise for Whitman.

“The kid’s a phenomenal runner and a gamer,” he said.

Menicke also noted that the senior girls also had excellent performances and he was happy with his young boys’ running squad as well.

On the girls’ side, Nicki Moser, Alexas Young and Tessa Cowan placed 10th through 12th respectively, with times of 21:03, 21:29, 21:32.

Rounding out the girls’ times were Kate Dubray, 18th, 21:44; Madison Stolte, 19th, 21:48; Tori Price, 20th, 22:06. Kaylin Carvey, 22nd, 22:15; and Cami Casazza, 25th, 22:31.

On the boys’ side, Austin Dumay took eighth, 17:15;  Zayne Brunz ninth, 17:18; James Ratzlaff 12th, 17:28; and Pascal Jessat rounded out the boys’ scoring placing 22nd, 17:58.

Menicke credited senior Jessat for pacing the younger runners.

The divisional tournament is this Saturday in Libby.

“Our goal (for the boys) is to defend our divisional crown,” Menicke said.

The girls will have a tough time beating Whitefish, but Menicke said a second place finish is a realistic goal.

“Libby has a great course. It’s a real emulator of the state course,” he said.