Freshman Milo Kauffman and senior Bria Plant each collected their first Crosstown victories and guided the Bengals to commanding victories Wednesday at Bill Roberts Golf Course.
Kauffman demonstrated no hesitation and no fear as he stormed to the lead and led the race wire to wire, winning in 16 minutes, 20 seconds to lead a 1-7 sweep for the boys and carry some momentum into the state meet next weekend in Kalispell.
Helena finished with 15 points and Capital totaled 50.
Following Kauffman across the finish line were junior Elliot Stimpson (16:45), sophomore Dylan Hill (16:57), senior Ian Rasmann (17:22), junior Henry Sund (17:39), sophomore Garrett Hinderman (17:44), and junior Jake Matthews (17:47).
While Kauffman’s victory and the team score were both noteworthy, it was really Rasmann’s breakthrough race that provided the biggest highlight. Rasmann’s time was a personal best in his final home race.
The perfect score for the boys was the fourth in Crosstown history for Helena (1982, 1983, 1985, 2023) and the fifth overall, as Capital scored 15 points in 1979.
On the girls side, Plant’s victory in 20:34 came a year after she placed second, only this time she had a lot of company from her teammates in the top five with senior teammate Sofia Hinderman nearby throughout the race, and junior Hadyn Garza within striking distance, as well. Hinderman finished second in 20:39 and Garza placed third in 20:48.
With the top three positions locked up, Bengal teammates Solveig Mohr, a junior, and Kate Lee, a sophomore, ensured a perfect score after an impressive and gritty late charge by Capital’s Claire Boutilier. Mohr placed fourth in 20:12, Lee was fifth in 21:21, and Boutilier crossed the line in sixth with a time of 21:28. Helena’s sixth and seventh runners were junior Ella Irey in ninth with a time of 21:53 and senior Alivia Thunstrom 10th in 21:58.
Helena finished with 15 points and Capital registered 44.
The perfect score for the girls was the third in Crosstown history for Helena (1977, 1982, 2023) and the fourth overall, as Capital recorded 15 points in 1995.
JUNIOR VARSITY
In JV competition, the Bengals capped an exceptional season with matching victories, both totaling 15 points like their varsity teammates.
The victory for the Helena girls followed their runner-up finish a week ago at 7 of 7. They competed at a high level throughout the season:
- Opened with a sweep of the top six places against Great Falls.
- Won the Flathead Invitational with 83 points to edge Hellgate (96).
- Won the Bozeman Invitational with 50 points to hold off Bozeman (64) and Hellgate (71).
- Placed second in the Butte Invite with 41 points, just 13 points behind Bozeman.
- Finished fourth at Mountain West (29 teams), just 22 points out of first place.
- Won the Great Falls Invitational with 51 points.
- Runner-up at 7 of 7 – unofficial JV state meet – with 69 points, trailing only Hellgate (36).
Helping guide the Bengals to second at 7 of 7 were junior Caoimhe Gallagher and freshman Ellie Coburn – 9th and 10th there – and the duo was back at it at Crosstown. Gallagher won the JV crown in 22:01 and Coburn was close behind in second with a time of 22:04. Just a few strides back was junior Margaret McDonald in 22:17, while freshman Mary Clement (22:44), sophomore Gabbi LaVoie (22:45), junior Mia Carrell (22:48, season best), and sophomore Emily Davidson (22:49) finished in a tight group to complete the seven-person scoring and displacing group for Helena.
The Bengals depth was further demonstrated with five additional runners in the top half of the field. Sophomore Cooper Judd capped a strong first season in eighth with a time of 23:04, and junior Margot Muszkiewicz placed ninth in 23:14. Sophomore Wren Clum was next in 11th for the Bengals in 23:48, and freshmen Kelia Gomes and Aven Baker chalked up personal bests of 23:49 and 23:50 in 12th and 13th, respectively. Also running a personal best for Helena was senior Hana Honemann in 27th with a time of 28:16.
On the boys side, the Bengals equaled the girls with the top nine finishers, led by junior Eli Highness with a time of 17:56. He was followed by senior Trey Schlepp (18:04), junior Chris Jenemann (18:34), sophomore Ed Coleman (18:36), freshman Joel Melton (18:37), senior Ryan Maus (18:59), junior Sam Fitterer (19:18), sophomore Enoch Johnson (19:30), and sophomore Henry Sweeney (19:31, personal record). Freshman Dan Williams was 11th in 20:02 to join nine of his teammates in the top half of the field.
Also joining Sweeney with personal bests were freshman Henry Coy (27:20) and sophomore Drew Gordon (28:32), while sophomore Gavin Payne ran a season best of 23:54.
Like the girls, the boys also capped a strong 2023 season with the victory:
- Opened with a 15-49 victory against Great Falls.
- Second at the Flathead Invitational with 93 points, trailing only Sentinel (66).
- Second at the Bozeman Invitational with 105 points, trailing West (105).
- Second at the Butte Invitational with 41 points, just 13 points behind Bozeman.
- Runner-up at the Mountain West Classic with 75 points, just 24 behind Coeur d’Alene.
- Won the Great Falls Invitational with 17 points, just two short of a perfect score.
- Fourth at 7 of 7 with 128 points, despite missing Eli Highness, who was a late call-up to the varsity lineup.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Next up for the Bengals is the state meet in Kalispell on Saturday, Oct. 21. Here’s a look at the state teams.
Boys State Team
- Henry Sund, junior
- Milo Kauffman, freshman
- Elliot Stimpson, junior
- Dylan Hill, sophomore
- Jake Matthews, junior
- Trey Schlepp, senior
- Ian Rasmann, senior (alternate)
- Eli Highness, junior (alternate)
Girls State Team
- Bria Plant, senior
- Solveig Mohr, junior
- Sofia Hinderman, senior
- Kate Lee, sophomore
- Hadyn Garza, junior
- Margaret McDonald, junior
- Ella Irey, junior
- Alivia Thunstrom, senior (alternate)
- Caoimhe Gallagher, junior (alternate)
Helena High Cross Country 