Mundel wins state cross-country title

Samantha Mundel topped off her high school cross-country career with a first-place finish at the state Class A championship meet in Helena on Oct. 25.

Mundel ran the course in 18 minutes 19.7 seconds to not only win the race but break her own school record in the process. She was nearly 25 seconds faster than Sarah Latcham, of Whitefish, who took second.

“It’s the fourth time this season she’s lowered the school record,” coach Richard Menicke said. “Pretty cool stuff. It’s been a lot of hard work and focus. It’s not rocket science. She did the work. She very much deserves this moment of victory.”

The girls took ninth as a team. Other runners included Meredith Stolte, 33rd at 21:00.84, Hannah Freeman, 39th at 21:17.32, Miranda Livingston, 77th at 22:46.99, Morgan Christianson, 83rd at 22:58.56, Kendra Cahoon, 86th at 23:00.50, and Haylie Peacock, 90th at 23:06.05.

Top runner for the boys was Glenn Morden, who placed 65th overall with a time of 17:57.59. He was followed by Hunter Peterson, 87th at 18:30.78, Winfield West, 91st at 18:32.12, Will Nelson, 108th at 19:26.72, Stephen Erickson, 111th at 19:36.04, Storm Kemppainen, 118th at 1:53:57.24, and Jacob Nelson, 127th at 20:48.72. The boys placed 18th as a team.