Kats win Whitefish Invitational

It was a nearly perfect day for running. Cool. Partly sunny. No wind. And fast times.

The Columbia Falls girls cross-country team won the Whitefish Invitational Oct. 8 and the boys took second, edged by Whitefish by one point.

Individually, Jinise Osborne and Derrick Williams continued their winning ways, both claiming first place. Williams ran the course at the Whitefish High School in 15:31. Osborne clocked a 19:32.

Meredith Stolte was third for the Kats at 19:59, followed by teammates Samantha Mundel, sixth at 20:39; Tori Price, eighth at 21:02; Carlee Brown, 10th at 21:16; and Cami Casazza, 11th at 21:21.

Mundel, a freshman, has knocked three minutes off her time since she started running this season, coach Richard Menicke said.

"Her performance was key," he noted.

Freshman Meredith Stolte also broke the 20-minute mark for the first time.

On the boys' side, James Ratzlaff was sixth at 17:09, followed by Austin Dumay, seventh at 17:17, Zayne Brunz, 14th at 17:39, and Kyle Hudson, 18th at 17:55.

"Hudson was a nice surprise," Menicke said.

The team will compete next at the divisional race this Saturday in Polson and then travel to Missoula for the state Class A championship the following weekend. Menicke said the teams just need to run strong these last two races and anything can happen.

"We just want to keep getting better," he said.