Harriers headed to state

A brisk Autumn morning greeted cross country runners and fans on Friday morning in Fort Belknap as several area schools brought elementary school and high school athletes to compete.

By the time the final race of the day was ending, the sun warmed all in attendance and seconds before Dodson-Whitewater Harrier runner Ireland Best reached the finish line, golden leaves fell from a tree, showering her in confetti as her race concluded. Best, who is qualified for the State Class C Cross Country meet with teammates Bella Lawless and Hannah Hanley, finished the race with a time of 38:02.

"I can do better, but I did decent," Best said. "As for State, I'm nervous but I am also excited. I just want to run it and cross that finish line."

Best said that aside from running at the State Meet in Missoula, she she is looking forward to spending time with her family and this week in practice she will practice on sprinting and pacing herself.

Lawless sat out the day's race as she had her knee swell up after a race in Havre earlier in the week. She told the PCN that her goal at the State Meet is to set a new personal best.

"I want to be in the 24's (minutes wise) and get another personal best, Lawless said.

Lawless said that she would power through the race next week regardless of how her knee feels and added that, aside from running, she is most looking forward to eating food at Missoula establishments (though she couldn't decide which.) Two weeks ago, at the Dodson Invite, Lawless posted her personal best time of 24:49 on her way to a second-place finish.

The Harriers will be joined by Hanley, a freshman, on the State team. In Dodson last week, she ran a PR of 24:51 (incorrectly reported as 23:51 in last week's PCN) and on Friday in Harlem posted a time of 27:29.

The first race of the day (half course) featured a total of 44 junior high boys and was eventually won by Havre Middle School's Paul Barthoelmuly with a time of 9:28 (former Malta student and current Glasgow Scottie Lane Thompson took second with a time of 9:35.) A total of four Dodson Middle School (and elementary) runners competed in the day's race and Chaske Cliff finished in 10th with a time of 10:47 (he won the Dodson Invite two weekends ago); followed by Coyotes Lance Snow who took 26th place with a time of 12:22; Reece Spotted Eagle who took 30th with a time of 13:11, and Skipper Cole who completed the course in 41st place with a time of 15-flat.

The second race of the day (half course) was the middle and elementary school girls who were led by Glasgow Middle School's Eve Stone who took first place with a time of 10:21. For the Dodson Lady Coyotes, Shaylee Decelles took 7th place with a time of 10:58; Carmyn Decelles was 12th with a time of 11:12; Trinity Walker took 31st with a time of 12:84; Svea Hogan took 42nd with a time of 14:36; Marie Hogan took 44th with a time of 15:38, and Tahlia Walker finished in 48th place with a time of 17:49.