Saturday at the University of Montana Golf Course, Joliet senior Ryan Ketterling won his second straight boys' State C cross country title and Belt-Centerville won its third consecutive girls' team championship.
Ketterling dashed to his crown in 15 minutes, 42.73 seconds after winning his first state title a year ago by over a minute. This year's win was a bit closer as Ketterling beat runner-up Gavin Owens, a junior from Ennis, by a mere 35 seconds.
Winnett senior Shy Iverson took third in 17:04.83 and classmate Sam Dembek was fourth, four seconds behind. Ketterling's Joliet teammate John Songstad placed fifth with a time of 17:24.27.
Joliet, which was second a year ago, placed its three scoring competitors in the top seven to post 13 points and edge defending champion Winnett by three. Culbertson took third with 39 points, followed by Gardiner (70) and Plenty Coups (79).
Mark Ferrara, head coach at Joliet, felt his team was on the verge of a title all season and could finally relax when the Hawks made the most of their opportunity.
“We feel great right now,” Ferrara said. “We knew we had it in us, it was just a matter of coming here and performing. We've had a great season with a lot of kids running personal records in the last three weeks. So we knew if we ran well today, it would end up being a really close team race between us and Winnett.”
Girls' runner-up for the second year in a row, sophomore Mariah Gondeiro, led Belt/Centerville to a successful defense of its back-to-back state titles. Juniors Renae Hepfner took sixth and Taylor Cummings finished in 11th.
“The third one in a row feels pretty good right now,” said Belt-Culbertson head coach Mark Garber. “None of the girls who finished in the top 20 are seniors right now, so things look good for the future.”
Culbertson placed second with 30 points and Drummond, paced by senior Megan Oberweiser's ninth-place finish, took third with 38.
After finishing eighth a year ago, Joliet sophomore Mackenzie O'Dore was the girls' individual medalist, finishing in 19:15.26. That was 12 seconds faster than Gondeiro.
“For the first mile or so the lead pack was back and forth with who was in front,” O'Dore said. “Then I just kind of jumped ahead and led the rest of the way.”
Defending champion Shannon Young of Harrison earned bronze with a time of 19:34.88. She was followed by Culbertson sophomore Lexi Hair (20:15.64) and Tristany Browning from Winnett, who came in at 20:18.32.
State C cross country
At University of Montana Golf Course
GIRLS
Team scores: Belt-Centerville 19, Culbertson 30, Drummond 38, Circle 51, Winnett 57, Joliet 60, Savage 114.
Top 25 individuals
1, Mackenzie O'Dore, Jol, 19:15.26; 2, Mariah Gondeiro, B-C, 19:27.51; 3, Shannon Young, Harrison, 19:34.88; 4, Lexi Hair, Cul, 20:15.64; 5, Tristany Browning, Win, 20:18.82; 6, Renae Hepfner, B-C, 20:25.22; 7, Morgan Martell, Cul, 20:31.70; 8, Hannah Reid, Cir, 20:41.37; 9, Megan Oberweiser, Dru, 20:43.09; 10, Wines Morgan, Gardiner, 20:56.96;
11, Taylor Cummings, B-C, 21:03.50; 12, Michaela Howe-Cobb, Augusta, 21:10.06; 13, Shaune Davis-Bull Child, Valier, 21:11.51; 14, Jessica Paske, Dru, 21:24.54; 15, Kenzee Gray, Dru, 21:24.76; 16, Kaylee Miller, B-C, 21:35.89; 17, Bridgette Oberweiser, Dru, 21:37.53; 18, Amanda Schult, B-C, 21:43.99; 19, Chelbi Brugh, Cul, 21:52.54; 20, Tristen Kienenberger, Dodson, 22:05.37;
21, Jasmine Haynie, Cir, 22:19.44; 22, Katie Melvin, Cir, 22:23.69; 23, Emily Bumgarner, B-C, 22:31.94; 24, Elly Hogue, Philipsburg, 22:36.24; 25, Jana Haynie, Cir, 22:38.35.
Other western Montana finishers
29, Melanie Graham, Philipsburg, 23:19.10; 37, Anna Nocolai, Lincoln, 24:24.99; 48, Niche Brown, Arlee, 26:08.32; 49, Cassandra Arambarri, Lincoln, 26:09.42; 58, Lanette Joseph, Arlee, 35:39.50.
BOYS
Team scores: Joliet 13, Winnett 16, Culbertson 39, Gardiner 70, Plenty Coups 79, Lincoln 86, Rocky Boy 86, Valier 92, Arlee 95, Belt-Centerville 138.
Top 25 individuals
1, Ryan Ketterling, Jol, 15:42.73; 2, Gavin Owens, Ennis, 16:17.36; 3, Shy Iverson, Win, 17:04.83; 4, Sam Dembek, Win, 17:08.94; 5, John Songstad, Jol, 17:24.27; 6, Theron Hamilton, Harrison, 17:36.80; 7, Luke Stevenson, Jol, 17:39.31; 8, Gage Owens, Ennis, 17:42.16; 9, Gage Iverson, Win, 17:49.46; 10, Ryan Hamilton, Harrison, 17:49.73;
11, Chris Sanchez, PC, 17:50.18; 12, Jackson Bolstad, Cul, 17:52.50; 13, Fred Lester, Cul, 17:54.63; 14, Kyle Nielsen, Cul, 17:56.04; 15, Taylor Broyles, Rapelje, 17:56.98; 16, Anfernee Standing Rock, RB, 18:13.07; 17, Zane Tams, Lin, 18:21.42; 18, Colton Salo, Jol, 18:29.86; 19, Gavin Lewis, Dodson, 18:30.35; 20, Beau Milton, Jol, 18:32.42;
21, Whit Weingart, Win, 18:32.64; 22, Jackson Herring, Gar, 18:43.46; 23, Forest Madsen, Gar, 18:48.48; 24, Jonathon Seaton, RB, 18:53.25; 25, Kevin Wallen, Gar, 18:54.86.
Other western Montana finishers
28, Kyle Felsman, Arlee, 18:58.02; 29, Jesse Pfau, Arlee, 18:58.27; 36, Jacob Maughan, Lincoln, 19:56.33; 37, Brant Lumpkin, Lincoln, 19:59.36; 40, Nicholas Morigeau, Arlee, 20:08.03; 42, Trae Burland, Arlee, 20:24.30; 51, Joseph Weeks, Drummond, 21:14.03; 53, John Sansavere, Arlee, 21:17.95; 54, Ryan Thompson, Lincoln, 21:22.27; 59, Chris Manzanares, Arlee, 22:13.61.
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