Coyotes at snowy State Meet

“State was extremely different this year,” Coyote Cross Country Coach Tianna Bloomer told the PCN. “Thanks, Covid.”

The Coyotes started their journey on the morning of Friday, October 23, at 8:00 AM. According to Coach Bloomer, their goal of leaving early was to beat the “historic storm” that was going to hit Kalispell.

“We made it all the way to Browning before the snow started to fall,” Coach Bloomer said. “We took our time and gracefully made it down the mountain into the valley before the roads became sketchy.”

Coach Bloomer believed the team was in luck because the bus reached the valley before roads started to freeze.

“Overnight it snowed quite a bit,” she said. “I kept saying out loud “How are they going to get the course clear of all this snow! To my surprise, they make industrial-sized snow blowers that I never thought of and those were used to clear the course.”

Coach Bloomer said that returning state runners Melony Fetter, Lindsey Fetter, and Emma Cole were up and dressed and ready to go but the trio each had different emotions about the race.

“Lindsey had butterflies, Emma had a stomachache and Melony being Melony just was ready to go with the flow,” Coach Bloomer said. “It was COLD!! Melony ran really well and had a great finish. In the first lap, she was in the top 30.”

M. Fetter finished 39th with a time of 28:11.25. L. Fetter came in a short while after her sister with a time of 30:48.42.

”Once Lindsey finished she said to me, I feel like I just ran 3 miles doing High Knees the whole time,” Coach Bloomer said. “She also finished well and almost had to race at the end but she was never passed by those behind her.”

Cole finished with a time of 39:22.85.

“Emma did well also especially with the encouragement of our Assistant Coach Pat Ditmar,” Coach Bloomer said. “In my opinion, they are all champions. The fact that no one complained or tried to bail at the last second because conditions were not the best made me the most proud.”

Coach Bloomer said that the Montana High School Sports Association and Flathead County Health Department did a very nice job of planning and executing the state meet.

“I am thankful that it was able to happen and that the season was able to finish,” Coach Bloomer said. “Another season down and what an interesting one, again thanks Covid. But we did it! Special congratulations to Melony Fetter for running her last race and for dedicating her time to Cross Country every fall for the last 10 years!”