Helena Varsity, Junior Varsity Sweep Team Titles
While it wasn’t the exact Crosstown cross country meet we all expected, the Helena Bengals adapted with calm and focus to set the stage for the state meet and close out the season for junior varsity runners Wednesday at Centannial Park.
After runners enjoyed sunny skies and green grass a week ago at Bill Roberts Golf Course, Mother Nature decided it was time for a “winterruption.” Much of Helena received between 4 and 5 inches of snow Sunday and Monday, which forced the Crosstown meet to move to the paved paths at Centennial.
And in fact, it was Crosstown+ this time around as Broadwater and Jefferson were invited to join the 5 kilometers of fun in the Capital City.
Helena swept the team titles in varsity and JV, while Helena junior Milo Kauffman captured the win in boys varsity competition, and sophomore Ander Svingen and freshman Ivy Kyle collected the boys and girls JV titles.
In boys competition, Kauffman guided Helena to a perfect score of 15 with a personal best of 15:18 as the Bengals finished 1-2-3-4-5. Next across the line for Helena were senior Garrett Hinderman (PR 15:59), junior Dylan Hill (season record 16:19), freshman Emory Kreissler (PR 16:30), and junior Joel Melton (PR 16:35). Senior Ed Coleman (17:08) and sophomore Foster Warner (PR 17:08) were Helena’s No. 6 and 7 runners in 8th and 9th. Those seven runners will represent the Bengals at the state meet.
Capital placed second with 55 points, while Broadwater (86) edged Jefferson (87) in a close battle for third.
In JV competition, Svingen completed the course in a PR 17:09 to win, while junior Titus Wetzel and senior Henry Sweeney finished second and third – both with PRs of 17:43. Svingen and Sweeney will travel to state as Helena’s alternates.
Also scoring in the JV race for the Helena boys were junior Dan Williams in fifth (PR 18:04) and sophomore Ravin Bury in sixth (PR 18:14), while sophomore Graham Coleman (PR 18:18) and freshman Milo Sealey (PR 18:21) were 7th and 8th.
Beyond those seven JV runners, another 18 Helena boys ran personal bests and four posted season records.
Helena’s JV boys won with 17 points and were followed by Capital (46), Jefferson (91), and Broadwater (103).
In girls competition, Townsend junior Kyla Meissner ran to a strong victory in 18:18, while Helena juniors Kortney McKay and Isabel Ward ran in lockstep throughout the race to finish second and third in personal bests of 18:55 and 18:58, respectively. Jefferson’s Piper Dawson broke up the Bengals’ top five by finishing fourth, but reaching the finish line in succession after her were senior Cooper Judd (5th, PR 19:25), senior Kate Lee (6th, PR 19:37), and junior Mary Clement (7th, PR 19:45). And fans didn’t have to wait long for Helena’s final two varsity runners to reach the line as junior Emmie Bermingham and freshman Wynona Schmidt closed the race in a kick to place 9th and 10th in PRs of 19:59 and 20:00, respectively.
The Bengals finished with 23 points, Capital was second with 62, Jefferson placed third with 79, and Broadwater was fourth with 81.
In JV girls competition, the Bengals were the only team with five scoring runners, as Helena finished 1-7. Freshman Ivy Kyle led the squad for the second consecutive race, this time with a personal best of 20:01, and she was followed closely by junior Ellie Coburn in second with a personal best of 20:03. Those two will represent the Bengals at the state meet as alternates.
Following Kyle and Coburn across the line were senior Emily Davidson in third (PR 20:18), sophomore Harper Johnson fourth (PR 20:57), freshman Mary Guzynski fifth (PR 21:05), sophomore Alexa Pipinich sixth (PR 21:08), and freshman Sadie Murray seventh (PR 21:27).
Like the boys, Helena’s girls witnessed a flood of PRs as another 13 Bengals PRed and six ran season bests.
The Bengals return to action with the state meet on Saturday, Oct. 25 at UM Golf Course in Missoula.
Helena High Cross Country 