Williams breaks school cross-country record
Derrick Williams shattered the Columbia Falls cross-country school record last week and took fifth at the Missoula Mountain West Classic. For the Wildkats, Jinise Osborne broke the previous senior school record.
Williams clocked a time of 15:15.6 at the Sept. 24 race, eclipsing the previous school mark of 15:39 set by Rob Macal in 1983. Macal's mark came from before Columbia Falls High School had a sanctioned cross-country program.
"Great race. Huge race," coach Richard Menicke said. "He ran a 4:58 third mile."
The race had a blistering pace. Andrew Gardner, of Mead High School, in Spokane, Wash., broke the course record with a 14:38.
Williams said he knew he had to run his own race. He said the race starts out wide but then narrows and makes a turn at about 400 meters. He didn't want to get stuck in the pack so he turned on the jets.
At the 800-meter mark, he heard someone yell out 2:16, "which is cooking." He settled in at the 1.5-mile mark, and "didn't let anyone pass me."
"Then I just started picking people off, and made sure my last mile was my strongest," he said.
Menicke was also pleased with James Ratzlaff and Zayne Brunz. Ratzlaff broke the 17-minute mark, taking 101st with a time of 16:58, and Brunz ran a 17:19 to take 137th. Brunz's time was a minute faster than his previous best.
Austin Dumay ran a 18:20.4 for 225th place, Kyle Hudson ran a19:25.3 for 297th, and Shonn Roberts clocked a 19:28.5 for 302nd. As a team, the Wildcats were 25th overall.
On the girls side, Osborne eclipsed the previous senior runner record with a 19:57. The previous senior record was held by Desiree Marjerrison, who clocked a 20:04. Osborne placed 50th overall.
Meredith Stolte ran a solid 20:31 for 84th place, Tori Price ran 21:24.1 for 134th, Carlee Brown ran 21:33.2 for 147th, Cami Casazza ran 22:12.3 for 177th, and Samantha Mundel ran a 22:18.4 for 186th place. .
Menicke sees good things in the girls squad. The team took 18th overall, third among Class A teams and the first among Northwest A teams at the meet. That could translate into team hardware come divisionals and the state meet in a few weeks, Menicke noted.
The boys and girls travel to Thompson Falls this Thursday.