Author: Coach Zentz

Complete Results

Photo Gallery

Helena High delivered a memorable showing at the Tracy Logan 7 of 7 on Thursday, turning its home course into a stage for one of the program’s strongest all‑around performances. The meet’s unique varsity format featuring seven separate races with each runner isolated against their counterparts demands maturity, patience, and awareness.

But before the Bengals dove into varsity competition, Helena’s JV squads delivered again.

The girls JV squad, the strongest in Class AA this fall, once again ran away from the competition. Their season‑long excellence showed up in full force as they dominated what amounts to the JV state championship with every AA team on the line for the final time this season. The boys JV Bengals added their own highlight, finishing fourth against the full AA field and a deep mix of Class A, B, and C programs.

With both JV groups setting a strong tone, Helena carried that momentum into the varsity races, where the Bengals delivered one of the most complete top‑to‑bottom performances in program history as they earned a sweep. The girls won the meet for the first time and the boys collected their third consecutive 7 of 7 crown.

VARSITY GIRLS

The varsity girls met the moment with a confident effort across all seven races, collecting four wins, a runner‑up finish, a third‑place finish, and a gritty 10th‑place showing by freshman Willa Sweeney in the elite No. 1 race featuring many of the top runners in Montana.

The Bengals finished with 19 points, Gallatin was second with 23, and Bozeman placed third with 29.

Demonstrating just how fast the final race was, winner Addie Kegel of Billings Central established a course record in 17:03 to run away with the title.

In the team competition, Helena carried an eight‑point lead over Gallatin heading into the final race, meaning Sweeney had to remain within eight places of Raptors senior Hazel Cooper. Soon after the race started, Sweeney (19:00) locked herself into a fast‑moving pack and remained steady to ensure Cooper, who ran an exceptional race to place sixth in 18:36, couldn’t find the points to overcome the Bengals’ work up to that point.

Senior Emmie Bermingham started the day in the No. 7 race with a win, crossing the finish line in 20:35 and 26 seconds ahead of her nearest competitor. Junior Izzy Lundstrom, in her first season of cross country, followed in the No. 6 race and collected a dominant victory in 19:58, finishing 56 seconds ahead of the runner‑up.

Senior Kortney McKay then secured Helena’s third victory in the No. 5 race by putting together an excellent second half, stretching a 15‑second lead to 42 seconds by the time she crossed the finish line in 19:49. Senior Isabel Ward kept the momentum going in the No. 4 race, striding to a runner‑up finish in 20:11 behind Gallatin’s Lilah Karro (19:50).

With Helena’s upperclassmen building a solid lead in the first four races, the freshman trio of McKenlee Young, Clara Ostby, and Sweeney demonstrated poise in the final three races to secure the victory. Young had her hands full early in the No. 3 race as Bozeman’s Sidney Ho challenged her through the first mile and a half, but Young used a strong surge to build a gap she never relinquished, claiming Helena’s fourth victory in 19:25 – 14 seconds ahead of Gallatin’s Claire Rucker.

Ostby then stepped to the line in the No. 2 race, knowing the competition would push her from start to finish. Glacier’s Ada Thiel ran to the front and pulled away for the win, while Big Sky’s Cecelia Huckeby finished second. Ostby (19:14) kept her eyes fixed on Huckeby throughout the race and fought off fierce challenges from Sweet Grass County’s Elle Anderson, Belgrade’s Amelia Brown, and Hellgate’s Finley Haveron to set the table for Sweeney in the final race.

VARSITY BOYS

The varsity boys followed with a performance equally rooted in consistency and depth. Helena finished with 18 points to hold off Bozeman at 21.

While senior Milo Kauffman locked up the victory with a third‑place showing in the elite No. 1 race, he benefited from a strong setup from his teammates.

Freshman Hank Coburn opened the day in the No. 7 race with a third‑place finish, running a personal best of 17:36 to continue an impressive start to his Bengal career. Junior Ander Svingen matched that finish in the No. 6 race with a time of 17:42. Bozeman, meanwhile, won both races, giving the Hawks a slight advantage heading into the No. 5 race.

Freshman Derek Bury continued the Bengals’ run of third‑place finishes in 16:41, helping draw Helena closer as Bozeman’s Hayden Schupp placed sixth. Going into the final four races, Bozeman still held a one‑point advantage.

That advantage, however, disappeared in the No. 4 race as Helena sophomore Tristan Hill raced to second place in 16:47, five seconds ahead of Bozeman’s 16:52. Sophomore Emory Kreissler then matched Hill’s runner‑up showing in the No. 3 race in 16:36, importantly finishing five scoring places ahead of Bozeman’s Jacob Posdon and giving Helena a five‑point lead with two races remaining.

Bozeman senior Branlin Foote ran away with the victory in the No. 2 race in 15:53, but Helena senior Joel Melton delivered an exceptional race to finish second in 16:32. That finish meant Kauffman needed to place fifth or better in the final race to secure the team victory.

The Hawks’ Taylor Neil continued his strong season with an impressive win in 15:27, but Kauffman ran an intelligent, controlled race to secure third place in 16:15 and lock down Helena’s third straight 7 of 7 title.

Bozeman, a consistent power in Class AA, has finished runner‑up to the Bengals the past three years, with margins of seven in 2024, five in 2025, and three this season.

JV GIRLS

The day’s success extended well beyond the varsity races. On the junior varsity front, the HHS girls were outstanding even while missing one of their top runners. With senior Mary Clement sidelined by illness but fully present in spirit, her teammates delivered another memorable performance.

Sophomore Mary Guzynski led the Bengals for the third straight race, with juniors Harper Johnson, sophomore Wynona Schmidt, and freshman Haddie Dailey forming a tight pack that advanced steadily toward the front. Sophomore Ivy Kyle closed hard to join them inside the top eight, giving Helena a decisive scoring group.

Bozeman’s Adele Kozicki (20:37) and Elie Scheihing (20:45) claimed the top two spots, with Guzynski finishing third in 20:49. Cut Bank junior Stella Wahl placed fourth in 21:00, and Johnson, Schmidt, Dailey, and Kyle followed in fifth through eighth with times of 21:01, 21:02, 21:06, and 21:12. Those five scorers gave the Bengals a winning total of 29 points, well ahead of Bozeman (67) and Glacier (84).

Helena’s pack strength was again on display, with the top five finishing within 22 seconds – the tightest spread in the field by a wide margin. The Bengals’ sixth and seventh runners added to the margin as well, with senior Ellie Coburn (13th, 22:02) and junior Alexa Pipinich (16th, 22:14) finishing ahead of scoring runners from Bozeman and Glacier.

Several Bengals also secured personal bests on a day when PRs were hard to come by due to heat, sun, and a demanding course. Freshman Mara Wirth (22:49), sophomore Iris McClain (24:00), junior Ava Reynolds (24:51), freshman Nara Kauffman (25:07), freshman Ida Munson (27:19), and sophomore Imara Lane (30:08) all recorded lifetime bests.

JV BOYS

The boys JV squad matched the girls’ energy with a strong fourth‑place team finish.

Junior Foster Warner led the way with a steady runner‑up performance behind Bozeman’s Finn Wirth, who won in 17:10. Warner crossed in 17:29 to give Helena a solid front‑end presence.

Senior Dan Williams (9th, 18:04), sophomore Milo Sealey (15th, 18:17), freshman Drake Nelson (30th, 18:40), and junior Apollo Althoff (37th, 18:44) rounded out Helena’s scoring five, producing a team total of 84 points – fourth behind Bozeman (49), C.M. Russell (67), and Glacier (70), and ahead of Great Falls (135).

Depth played a major role as well. Senior Titus Wetzel, junior Graham Coleman, and freshman Grey Haladay finished 39th, 40th, and 41st in 18:47, 18:49, and 18:50, reinforcing the strength of Helena’s lineup.

Like the girls, several boys secured personal bests despite the challenging conditions. Haladay’s 18:50 was a lifetime best, while freshman Abe Loveland ran 19:05. Freshman Brice Beutelschies clocked 20:00, freshman Lucas LaVoie posted 21:32, junior Santiago Arguelles ran 24:48, and freshman Ansen Hinck improved to 28:11.

NEXT UP

Helena next wraps up the regular season with the Capital City Area Classic featuring competition from Capital, East Helena, Townsend, and Jefferson at Bill Roberts Golf Course on Wednesday afternoon.

Complete Results

Photo Gallery

The next-one-up approach is often talked about in traditional team sports like basketball, football, and volleyball, but Helena High cross country has embraced a version of the philosophy built on readiness, reliability, poise, and a team-first mentality to navigate a busy stretch of travel and competition.

With runners who competed in the Bob Firman Invitational still recovering from the long trip, intense competition, and shorter turnaround, Helena’s next runners up assumed varsity responsibilities at the Great Falls Invitational and delivered a girls victory and boys runner-up finish, respectively. Their junior varsity peers matched that high level of performance with a victory and runner-up finish of their own.

JV Girls

The junior varsity girls ran first, and freshman Mara Wirth led the way in her debut scoring performance for the Bengals, placing second on Anaconda Hills Golf Course’s constant ascents, descents, and hairpin turns. Wirth was Helena’s fourth runner and about ninth overall through one mile, but she steadily moved past those in front of her and looked incredibly strong through the always‑difficult middle mile. She was the fastest runner on the final major ascent and used that advantage to secure her runner-up finish behind Harlem’s J’Lynn Morgan, who won in 23:09. Wirth crossed in 23:44.

Next for Helena were senior Aven Baker in 5th (24:06), freshman Grace Williams in 6th (24:12), junior Malea Radley in 7th (24:12), and junior Kenley Higgins in 14th (25:27) to complete the scoring. Helena’s sixth and seventh runners were sophomore Iris McClain in 16th (26:07) and freshman Leah Melton in 20th (27:05).

Additional highlights from the girls JV race included junior Ava Reynolds’ debut in a Bengal uniform as she placed 27th, sandwiched between teammates Charlotte Crowley and Brigitt Bryce; freshman Asa Davant’s return to competition after missing a couple recent meets; sophomore Imara Lane’s personal record of 32:19 on arguably the most demanding course on the schedule; and fierce kicks to the finish from senior Elsie Munson and junior Erin McNeil to overtake late competition.

The JV girls remained unbeaten with 33 points, while CM Russell (71), Havre (77), and Harlem (82) secured the next three spots in a close battle for second.

JV Boys

The junior varsity boys raced second and were guided to a runner-up finish by junior Apollo Althoff in 10th (19:33) and freshman Grey Haladay in 14th (19:38). The trio of freshman Drake Nelsen, junior Sean Carney, and junior Reid Hayes rolled across the finish line next for the Bengals in 17th, 18th, and 19th to complete the scoring.

In a race featuring nine teams, CM Russell dominated with 27 points. Helena was second with 74, and Great Falls placed third with 94.

Junior Ravin Bury ran a strong race to place 24th (20:11) as Helena’s sixth runner, while sophomore Levi Johnson (20:14.4) was 27th and senior Cole Harris (20:14.9) placed 28th in a friendly fight for Helena’s seventh spot.

Varsity Girls

In varsity girls competition, Big Sky sophomore Avery Young stormed to a dominant victory in 19:21, but Helena’s pack of sophomore Mary Guzynski, junior Harper Johnson, senior Mary Clement, freshman Haddie Dailey, and sophomore Wynona Schmidt guided the Bengals to a clear team win.

Those five started the race against Big Sky and CMR a little more reserved than usual but used their strength and determination to collectively climb through the rankings over the winding final two miles. Guzynski, who also paced the varsity squad at the Butte Invitational, eventually broke away from her teammates to lead the Helena pack across the line in 5th (21:19). Despite a time that wasn’t a personal best because of the course’s difficulty, it was her strongest race of the season and arguably her grittiest performance in a Bengal uniform.

Next for the Bengals was Johnson, who continued her reliable run of results in 6th (21:25); Clement with another strong effort in 7th (21:29); Dailey with her strongest race yet in 8th (21:48); and Schmidt, who delivered the kick of the day to move past three runners in the final 100 meters and place 9th (21:52). Helena’s sixth and seventh runners were sophomore Ivy Kyle in 14th (22:23) and senior Ellie Coburn in 16th (22:23).

Helena finished with 30 points, while Big Sky posted 46 and CMR finished with 53.

After representing the Bengals in back-to-back varsity competitions, those seven standouts for the girls will provide a potent pack to lead the junior varsity team at next week’s Tracy Logan 7 of 7, regarded by many as the JV state championship.

Varsity Boys

Helena’s boys matched up against Great Falls and Big Sky and came up just four points shy of the win, as the Bison finished with 29 to Helena’s 33. Big Sky was third with 71.

Great Falls’ Ryland Crane ran a strong race up front to win in 17:47, while Bengal junior Ander Svingen and freshman Hank Coburn completed the top three with times of 18:18 and 18:21. Also finishing in the top 10 for Helena was sophomore Milo Sealey, who put together one of his strongest performances in seventh place with a time of 18:47. Junior Foster Warner was next for the Bengals in 12th (19:11), and junior Graham Coleman completed the scoring in 15th (19:19). Helena’s sixth and seventh runners were junior Ben Blanksma (16th, 19:21) and senior Titus Wetzel (17th, 19:23).

Next Up

As noted above, the Bengals return to action on Thursday, Oct. 8 at the Tracy Logan 7 of 7 at Bill Roberts Golf Course. It will be their first of two home meets before state. Competition begins at 12 p.m. with JV races, followed by seven varsity races featuring the No. 7 runners, No. 6 runners, No. 5 runners, and so on. The unique format makes for a fun and unique competition.

Girls 4th Behind 3 Nationally Ranked Teams; Boys Climb to 7th in Elite Field

Complete Results

Meet Photos

The Helena High girls and boys led the way for Montana on a gorgeous Saturday at the Bob Firman Invitational cross country meet on The Course in Spokane Valley, Wash.

The site of the event provided runners with a unique experience on a new multi-million dollar facility constructed with one sport in mind – cross country – and the Bengals didn’t let the opportunity go to waste.

Guided by a trio of fearless freshmen and stabilized by savvy racing from veterans, the Bengal girls held their own with a fourth-place finish behind three nationally ranked teams – No. 8 Sehome (Bellingham, Wash.), No. 24 Rocky Mountain (Meridian, Idaho), and No. 36 Jesuit (Portland, Ore.).

Helena’s boys, meanwhile, posted a strong collective effort to finish 7th, slightly ahead of 8th-place Bozeman, and recorded the top finish for a Montana team in a race that featured incredible speed and depth.

From the start, it was clear the Helena girls were aiming for the podium they just missed, as freshmen Willa Sweeney, Clara Ostby, and McKenlee Young pushed to the front of the pack in the first kilometer. Seniors Isa Ward and Kortney McKay settled into a fast pace a little further back, and junior Izzy Lundstrom and senior Emmie Bermingham kept their teammates in sight, poised to add depth they’ve provided throughout the season.

As the race progressed through the 2K, 3K, and 4K marks, three Montanans – Polson’s Morgan Delaney, Bozeman’s Phoebe Maixner, and Hellgate’s Reed Stromberg – moved to the front of the pack to spearhead what would turn out to be a statement day for Montana runners.

Sweeney and Ostby continued to push each other through the always difficult middle mile in the top 40, and Young continued forward a handful of places back in her strongest, most complete race by any measure in a Bengal uniform. Ward and McKay, meanwhile, navigated heavy traffic in the top half of the elite field, while Lundstrom and Bermingham provided a safety valve in the event any of the Bengals’ top five faltered.

But Helena (201 points) held strong throughout the lineup and put a scare into the teams ahead of them, finishing just 25 points behind Rocky Mountain (176) and 18 behind Jesuit (183). Sehome, which placed 10th at Nike Cross Nationals last fall, ran away with the win, posting 125 points.

Sweeney guided the Bengals across the line for the fifth time in as many races this season, running a 36-second personal best of 18:15 to set a Bengal freshman 5K school record, and move to No. 2 on the all-time list behind 2019 Gatorade Cross Country Athlete of the Year, Kylie Hartnett. Ostby (30th) and Young (32nd) also moved ahead of Hartnett’s freshman record with massive personal bests of 18:24 and 18:29, respectively.

Ward placed 70th in 18:56, slipping under 19:00 for the third time in her career as she established good rhythm in the race and will take some momentum forward after a confident performance. McKay placed 96th in 19:18, her second-fastest mark this season, demonstrating resolve throughout the race as she locked down Helena’s scoring as the fifth runner, moving up five places in the final kilometer. Lundstrom, meanwhile, made a big late push through the field to finish 100th in a personal best of 19:22. The junior gained six places in the second kilometer, seven in the third, eight in the fourth, and nine in the fifth as she continues to find her footing in her first season of cross country. And senior Emmie Bermingham ran a season best of 19:57 in 143rd, again demonstrating her reliability and grit throughout the race.

The race marked the first time in school history more than two Bengals registered times faster than 19 minutes in the same event (four), and the first time more than one runner ran faster than 18:30 in the same competition (three).

In the boys race, things got off to a difficult start for Helena’s leader as Milo Kauffman got a “flat tire” just 400 meters into the race, then kicked his shoe completely off about 200 meters later – choosing to move forward with just one shoe.

While the all-grass course made that plan seem favorable in the moment, the disadvantage became clear as the race progressed and Kauffman’s body struggled to keep up with his aspirations as a result of a shorter leg to stand on and the lack of traction on one side.

Despite the unfortunate turn of events, he pressed on and still managed to run his second-fastest time this season (15:22) and finish 33^rd to lead the Bengals to seventh.

Behind Kauffman were a rush of personal-best performances from his rising supporting cast. Sophomore Emory Kreissler placed 76th in a PR 15:52, pushing through a difficult fourth kilometer to rebound with a strong finish, and senior Joel Melton posted another strong performance with a PR of 15:57 in 85th.

Just off Melton’s shoulder was Helena sophomore Tristan Hill, who had yet another breakthrough performance, this time finishing 86th in a PR of 15:57, climbing a whopping 44 places from the end of the first kilometer to the finish. Freshman Derek Bury, meanwhile, was nearly as active in the passing department, moving past 34 runners in the same distance to place 94th in a PR of 16:03 and finish Helena’s scoring.

Sixth-man Dan Williams (232nd) also ran a personal best, clocking in at 17:16, and junior Foster Warner (254th) capped Helena’s big day in 17:45.

With just four weeks remaining until the state championship meet, Helena next heads to the Great Falls Invitational on Friday, Oct. 2 before returning home for two meets at Helena’s Bill Roberts Golf Course – Tracy Logan 7 of 7 on Thursday, Oct. 8, and the Helena Area Meet on Wednesday, Oct. 14. State is Saturday, Oct. 24 at Amend Park in Billings.

Meet Results

Meet Photos

On a hot and sunny Thursday afternoon that made every mile feel a little more difficult a mile above sea level, Helena High cross country delivered another impressive collective effort at the Butte Invitational.

With both varsity squads competing without their usual top seven who are racing Saturday at the Bob Firman Invitational in Spokane, the Bengals relied on depth, grit, and exceptional team support to produce standout results across all four races.

The girls finished second in the varsity team race, while the JV girls kept their perfect record intact with a fifth victory in as many races. The varsity boys placed seventh with 193 points, just six shy of Hellgate’s 187, and the JV boys were runner-up to CM Russell. Hellgate and Bozeman were also competing without their usual top seven in both varsity races; otherwise, teams had their full complement of runners.

Girls Varsity

Helena surged to second with 102 points, edging Billings West (103) by a single point, while Gallatin pulled away for the victory with 66.

Senior Mary Clement (17th, 20:26.0) led the Bengals out with a courageous early effort, setting the tone in the opening two miles. Just behind her, sophomore Mary Guzynski (16th, 20:25.3) put together an incredibly strong second half, catching 10 runners in the final 2.5 kilometers and finishing with a confident kick to the finish to pace Helena across the line.

Sophomore Wynona Schmidt (27th, 20:56.2) and junior Harper Johnson (28th, 20:59.7), meanwhile, ran steady and reliable races in the middle of the pack, and freshman Haddie Dailey (30th, 21:02.8) posted a personal best to lock down Helena’s scoring.

Helena’s depth made the difference in the team standings as Ivy Kyle (37th, 21:27.6) and Ellie Coburn (41st, 21:30.1) both finished ahead of West’s fifth runner, which provided the margin needed to secure the Bengals’ narrow second‑place finish.

Guzynski, Clement, and Schmidt all posted season‑best times.

Skyview sophomore Kallie Clayton won the race in 18:26.9, followed by Big Sky sophomores Avery Young in 18:42.9 and Cecelia Huckeby in 18:59.3.

Boys Varsity

Despite losing their third runner to injury about two miles in, the Bengals still battled to seventh place with 193 points, narrowly trailing Hellgate’s 187. CM Russell won with 50 points, while Billings Senior (74) and Billings Skyview (114) finished second and third.

Junior Ander Svingen (23rd, 17:44.6) led Helena through the first half, while freshman Hank Coburn (25th, 17:45.6) and sophomore Milo Sealey (52nd, 18:29.0) both moved up significantly in the second half with Coburn climbing four spots and Sealey 10 to stabilize the Bengals’ scoring.

Junior Graham Coleman (58th, 18:43.7) and senior Titus Wetzel (65th, 18:52.9) rounded out the scoring five, while Apollo Althoff (67th, 18:54.4) was Helena’s sixth runner. Junior Ben Blanksma, who was running strong as the Bengals’ third runner, was forced to step off the course after suffering an injury.

Svingen’s time was a season best and Coburn’s was a personal best.

Preston sophomore Alex Scott won in 16:09.2, followed by Billings Senior junior Quindell Yellowtail in 16:27.2 and senior Oliver Brown in 16:28.1.

JV Girls

The JV girls kept their perfect record intact, winning their fifth straight race with a dominant 34 points. Gallatin was second with 81 and Hellgate third with 105.

Junior Alexa Pipinich (2nd, 21:51.8) led the way, putting pressure on eventual winner Myla Flaten of Gallatin (21:44) throughout the race. Senior Aven Baker (3rd, 22:24.7) and junior Malea Radley (5th, 22:38.8) had breakthrough races to earn spots in the top five and leave the meet with big, well-earned smiles.

Senior Kumari Leland (11th, 23:15.1) was Helena’s fourth scorer, freshman Grace Williams (13th, 23:22.8) closed out the scoring five with a strong finish, and freshman Mara Wirth (16th, 23:25.9) wasn’t far behind. Sophomore Iris McClain (32nd, 24:06.8) delivered a big kick to finish as Helena’s seventh runner.

The JV girls produced a wave of improvements. Season bests came from Baker, Radley, Leland, and seniors Ellie Zipfel (24:52.4), Ava Irey (25:02.1), and Astoria Holzer (25:39.8). Personal bests were run by Wirth, McClain, freshman Leah Melton (25:41.2), sophomore Charlotte Crowley (25:43.8), freshman Nara Kauffman (25:45.3), junior Maizy Parrett (25:47.0), freshman Mary Dietz (25:48.9), sophomore Abby Fries (25:52.4), junior Margherita Giuliani (26:01.3), and sophomore Imara Lane (26:04.7).

JV Boys

The JV boys put together a strong team performance to finish second with 55 points, trailing only CM Russell (20). A pair of up-and-coming newcomers paced Helena.

Freshman Drake Nelson, running his first race as a Bengal, dug incredibly deep in the second half. And in the closing stretch, he unleashed a fierce kick to run down a pack of CMR runners and finish second overall in 18:36.6.

Freshman Grey Haladay (8th, 18:58.9) ran a brave race of his own, going out with the top five and nearly holding his position to the finish. Junior Sean Carney (14th, 19:10.3), sophomore Levi Johnson (18th, 19:23.8), and freshman Abe Loveland (19th, 19:33.2) rounded out Helena’s scoring five, with Cole Harris (25th, 19:50.5) and Brice Beutelschies (34th, 20:11.3) closing as Helena’s sixth and seventh runners.

Season bests came from Carney, senior Dane Moser (20:42.2), and sophomore Ben Cupino (22:14.8). Personal bests were recorded by Haladay, Beutelschies, junior Carlo Gonzales (20:21.5), freshman Kroy Bermingham (20:33.2), freshman Samuel Royal (21:31.0), senior Thomas Peres (21:33.8), freshman Clinton Stops (21:55.8), senior Ronin Downing (35:51.5), sophomore Gabe Waits (22:38.1), and junior Santi Arguelles (24:57.4).

Next Up

As noted at the top, Helena’s top seven boys and girls will compete Saturday in the elite division at the Bob Firman Invitational in Spokane. The meet will feature some of the top-ranked teams and individuals in the country and will provide an exciting challenge for the Bengals. Live results and a live broadcast will be available, although the video feed does require a fee.

JV Squads Put Together Dominant Double Win

Meet Results

Meet Photos

Under a blanket of cloud cover, the Bengals delivered another steady performance Saturday, this time at the Mountain West Classic on the University of Montana Golf Course in Missoula.

With more than 80 teams from four states crowding the starting lines, Helena produced one of its strongest collective showings of the season, highlighted by a historic girls varsity win, a varsity boys runner‑up finish, and two dominant JV victories.

The cool, overcast weather kept conditions optimal, but the midcourse climb and varied terrain demanded disciplined racing. Helena handled both well, showing depth across all four squads and gaining a meaningful midseason benchmark.

Girls Varsity

Helena’s girls made program history with a 122‑point performance that held off Bozeman (146) and Gallatin (153). The race never felt comfortable as the top three teams sparred throughout, but Helena’s consistency across all five scorers proved decisive.

Freshman Willa Sweeney led the Bengals with an 11th‑place finish in a personal‑best 18:51, attacking the course and settling into a strong final mile. Freshman Clara Ostby followed in 22nd at 19:21, and freshman McKenlee Young (19:45, 31st) and senior Isabel Ward (19:46, 32nd) kept Helena firmly in the mix. Junior Izzy Lundstrom closed out the scoring in 35th at 19:54, continuing her steady rise in her first cross country season.

Senior Kortney McKay (19:57, 37th) and senior Emmie Bermingham (20:25, 58th) added important depth just behind the scoring pack.

It was the kind of performance that has defined the Bengals season so far as the balanced squad has experienced four different finishing orders in four races.

Polson senior Morgan Delaney continued her strong season, placing first in 17:50, but Bozeman sophomore Phoebe Maixner made her earn it, finishing second in 17:52.

JV Girls

The junior varsity girls race was defined by Helena’s pack running. The Bengals placed six runners in the top 10 and eight in the top 15, finishing with 27 points to claim the victory, as Bozeman (58) and Glacier (73) placed second and third.

Senior Mary Clement led the group with a runner‑up finish in 20:43. Close behind came Harper Johnson (5th, 21:17), Wynona Schmidt (7th, 21:27), Ellie Coburn (8th, 21:28), freshman Haddie Dailey (9th, 21:34), sophomore Ivy Kyle (10th, 21:34), sophomore Mary Guzynski (12th, 21:43), and junior Alexa Pipinich (14th, 22:02).

The tight cluster of Helena jerseys through the middle of the race left little doubt about the team outcome.

While that group led the team to victory, Helena’s entire JV squad ran competitively, highlighted by the trio of freshman Mara Wirth, sophomore Iris McClain, and senior Aven Baker, who were the big movers on Saturday.

Wirth crossed the mile mark in 142nd, moved up to 110th in the second mile, then crossed the finish line in 81st, gaining 61 places and finishing in 24:16. McClain started in 136th, moved up to 105th, and in the final mile passed 22 additional runners to finish 83rd with a personal best of 24:18. Baker also surged throughout the race, crossing the mile mark in 129th, moving to 105th in the second mile, and finishing 85th in 24:21.

Boys Varsity

Senior Milo Kauffman once again set the tone for Helena, finishing fourth in 15:46.

The Bengals totaled 98 points, placing second behind Bozeman (85) and well ahead of Hardin (181).

Sophomore Emory Kreissler (14th, 16:30), sophomore Tristan Hill (26th, 16:39), senior Joel Melton (30th, 16:42), and freshman Derek Bury (36th, 16:45) rounded out the scoring five. Senior Dan Williams (18:37) provided additional depth.

Hill helped tighten the race in the late going with an impressive midrace move that saw him gain 14 positions in the second mile. He caught five additional runners in the final mile to put a stamp on an impressive race for the first‑year varsity runner.

Bozeman was led by individual champion and senior Taylor Neil, who posted a time of 15:14. Darrell Dickson of Sugar‑Salem (Idaho) was runner‑up in 15:21.

JV Boys

Helena’s JV boys nearly mirrored the girls’ dominance, winning with 35 points to top Bozeman (77) and Hardin (118).

Junior Ander Svingen and freshman Hank Coburn went 1–2 in 17:54 and 17:58, giving Helena immediate control of the race.

Sophomore Milo Sealey (8th, 18:13), junior Ben Blanksma (12th, 18:29) and junior Graham Coleman (15th, 18:31) completed the scoring, while junior Apollo Althoff (27th, 18:45) and freshman Grey Haladay (63rd, 19:20) were Helena’s sixth and seventh runners.

Freshman Calvin Mogstad was the boys’ big mover in the race, gaining 51 positions in the final two miles to place 133rd in his first attempt on the course.

What’s next?

Next week, the Bengals split their schedule: the JV teams travel Thursday to the Butte Invitational, while the varsity squads head to Spokane for the Bob Firman Invitational on Saturday, where they’ll race in the elite division against some of the strongest programs in the country.

Helena Boys Claim 3rd in Varsity, 2nd in JV

Complete Results

Photo Gallery

BOZEMAN — As the late‑afternoon sun stretched across Bridger Creek Golf Course on Saturday, Helena High delivered another impressive program-wide performance.

Warm conditions greeted the races, but calm air and shaded stretches along the back half of the course helped runners settle in and find some relief from the sun as the day gradually cooled.

Across four races, Helena showed focus, intention, and a growing sense of momentum.

JV Girls

The Bengals opened the meet with a commanding win in the JV girls race, scoring just 19 points and placing all five scorers inside the top 10.

Sophomores Wynona Schmidt (21:07) and Mary Guzynski (21:35) led the charge with third‑ and fourth‑place finishes. Senior Ellie Coburn (21:47), freshman Haddie Dailey (21:48), and sophomore Ivy Kyle (21:57) packed tightly behind them, finishing seventh, eighth, and tenth. The 50‑second spread reflected the teamwork and depth that have become hallmarks of the JV girls’ young season.

Bozeman finished second with 44 points, but Helena controlled the race from the opening moments to the finish arch.

JV Boys

The JV boys followed with a gritty, tightly contested race of their own.

Sophomore Milo Sealey (18:11) led Helena with a fifth‑place finish, navigating the race with composure. Senior Titus Wetzel (18:35) added an eighth‑place effort, while junior Apollo Althoff (14^th, 18:55)) and junior Graham Coleman (16^th, 19:01) kept Helena in contention with strong mid‑pack racing. Junior Sean Carney (19:28) closed out the scoring in 36^th.

The Bengals finished with 72 points, just three shy of Bozeman’s winning total of 69, a narrow margin that demonstrated how competitive the race was.

Varsity Girls

By the time the varsity girls took the line, the tone had been set by the JV runners and Helena seized the moment.

In a field featuring 24 scoring teams and athletes from 36 schools, the Bengals used their depth and discipline to secure an 84‑point team victory, ahead of Gallatin (136), Kelly Walsh of Wyoming (137), and reigning AA state champion Bozeman (164).

Freshman Willa Sweeney continued her impressive debut season with a seventh‑place finish in 19:03 and fellow freshman McKenlee Young followed in 14th with one of her strongest races to date in 19:26. Senior Kortney McKay surged through an outstanding final mile to take 20^th in 19:32, junior Izzy Lundstrom delivered a breakthrough performance in 22^nd with a personal best of 19:39, and freshman Clara Ostby closed out the scoring in 26^th with another composed effort, clocking in at 19:48. Seniors Isabel Ward (35^th, 20:07) and Emmie Bermingham (39^th, 20:12) were Helena’s sixth and seventh finishers.

The Bozeman Invite allows 10 entries in the varsity division (three more than the usual seven), and the Bengals took advantage by running nine girls in the race. While it might have weakened the JV squad a little by adding runners to the varsity race, senior Mary Clement (21:43) and junior Harper Johnson (20:54) took advantage of the opportunity with solid performances, finishing in 59^th and 76^th, respectively.

The Bengals’ 45‑second 1-5 spread underscored the strength of Helena’s pack, which features a blend of emerging freshmen and experienced upperclassmen moving confidently together.

Varsity Boys

The varsity boys capped Helena’s afternoon with a gritty, well‑earned podium finish.

Senior Milo Kauffman (15:47) led the Bengals with a fourth‑place performance and sophomore Emory Kreissler (16:20) backed him with a strong 13th‑place finish, continuing his steady rise. Senior Joel Melton (16:33) followed in 22nd, while sophomore Tristan Hill (41^st, 16:59) and freshman Derek Bury (43^rd, 17:02) rounded out the scoring five, battling hard for their positions through the final miles.

Running sixth and seventh for Helena were junior Foster Warner (61^st, 17:17) and Hank Coburn (89^th, 17:56, personal best). Junior Ben Blanksma, meanwhile, took advantage of a varsity opportunity and finished 127^th in 18:24.

Helena finished third with 113 points, trailing only Sheridan, Wyoming (58) and Bozeman (82). Thirty‑seven teams were represented in the race, making the Bengals’ podium finish another meaningful step forward.

Additional Highlights

On a strong day for the Bengals, personal bests were hard to come by in Bozeman, demonstrating why time is not always the best indicator of success in this sport. However, considering how difficult it was to produce a PR at Bridger Creek Golf Course, it is worth highlighting five additional athletes who achieved a lifetime best in addition to the exceptional performances posted by Lundstrom and Coburn.

Also running personal bests were sophomore Iriz McClain (24:54) and senior Elsie Munson (28:25) in the girls JV race, and Carlo Gonzales (20:24), Brice Beutelschies (20:56), and Ansen Hinck (29:09) in the boys JV division.

What’s Next?

The Bengals return to action next Saturday at the Mountain West Classic in Missoula, where they will face Montana’s best along with competition from neighboring states to the west.

Complete Results

Meet Photos

Helena High claimed all four titles with Kauffman up front and the girls’ depth on full display.

The Helena High Bengals delivered another strong performance at the Flathead Invitational on Friday, sweeping all four team titles at Rebecca Farm and showcasing the depth, joy, and will to compete that have become hallmarks of the program.

Senior Milo Kauffman powered the boys varsity to victory with a commanding individual win, while the Bengal girls executed one of the meet’s most disciplined pack‑running displays, stacking all seven varsity runners inside the top 20 to secure the team title.

The momentum extended through JV competition. The Helena girls produced a perfect score, sweeping places 1–5 for 15 points and flooding the leaderboard with seven runners in the top 10 and 13 in the top 30. The JV boys matched the energy with five runners in the top 10 and eight in the top 30, edging Glacier by 10 points to complete the Bengals’ four‑race sweep.

In varsity team scoring, the Bengal boys topped a 21‑team field with 50 points, ahead of Hellgate (111) and Glacier (114). The girls controlled their 17‑team race with 64 points, followed by Hellgate (94) and Big Sky (104).

Early in the boys race, Kauffman settled in with the leaders and increased the pressure on the competition as they turned the corner from the 1-mile mark into the first pass of Rebecca Farm’s steady hill. As he hit the halfway point, he had built a 5-second lead over Hellgate senior Miles Miller. He continued adding breathing room until he finished with a season-best 15:20 and a 12-second victory.

Sophomore Emory Kreissler and senior Joel Melton, meanwhile, ran intelligent races a little further back in the pack and finished 6^th and 8^th in personal bests of 15:53 and 15:59, respectively. A little further back, sophomore Tristan Hill had a massive breakthrough in 20^th place with a best of 16:42 and freshman Derek Bury put a bookend on the scoring in 21^st at a best of 16:43. Had either of those two faltered, junior sixth-man Foster Warner had their back in 25^th place with a PR of 16:54. And senior Dan Williams continued to climb the ladder as he posted a lifetime best o f 17:33 in 44^th.

Varsity Girls

The girls race unfolded a little differently for the Bengals as Polson senior and University of Wyoming commit Morgan Delaney pushed out to a big lead with a handful of others en route to a dominant victory. Helena remained calm and focused in a pack just off the back of the top 10 runners.

As the race moved into the second mile, some space grew among the Bengals as freshmen Willa Sweeney began her push to a 10^th-place finish in a personal best of 18:52 – the second fastest freshman time ever posted by an HHS runner behind 2022 grad Kylie Hartnett.

While Sweeney did create some space between herself and her teammates, the Bengals’ scoring five finished the race separated by just 37 seconds. Freshman Clara Ostby posted her best of 19:11 in 11^th place, senior Kortney McKay clocked a season best of 19:15 in 13^th, freshman McKenlee Young registered a PR of 19:19 in 14^th, and senior Isabel Ward ran a season best 19:30 in 16^th.

Like the boys, Helena’s girls had two strong runners backing the scoring five as junior Izzy Lundstrom ran a personal best 19:51 in 19^th and senior Emmie Bermingham took advantage of her first varsity race this season to finish in a season best of 19:57 in 20^th.

JV Girls

While the varsity girls impressed, the JV squad wasn’t to be outdone and followed up the varsity victory with perfection. Across the board the Bengals ran tough, including three who ran their first race in a Bengal uniform and another five veterans who opened their season.

Up front, it was a wave of white and cardinal as the Bengals swept the first five places to score a perfect 15 points, and their sixth and seventh runners added 6^th and 8^th place for good measure.

Leading the way for Helena was senior Mary Clement who looked confident and strong as she took an early and commanding lead to run away with the victory in 20:36. Following her up was sophomore Wynona Schmidt in a season-opening 21:03, junior Harper Johnson in 21:05, sophomore Mary Guzynski in a season-opening 21:06, freshman Haddie Dailey in a personal best 21:13, and sophomore Ivy Kyle in a season-best 21:13 to claim sixth place. Separated by just one place from her teammates was senior Ellie Coburn in 8^th place with a season best of 21:21.

Like their varsity counterparts, Helena’s JV squad posted a 1-5 time gap of just 37 seconds.

Placing second as a team was Glacier with 53, and Hellgate finished third with 74.

While the top seven runners took care of the scoring, Helena’s big day didn’t end there. Junior Alexa Pipinich ran a season best of 21:39 in 12^th, senior Aven Baker ran strong again with a time of 22:40 in 21^st, freshman Grace Williams placed 24^th in 23:12, and the trio of junior Malea Radley (27^th, 23:21, SB) junior Kenley Higgins (28^th, 23:22, PR), and senior Kumari Leland (30^th, 23:33) brought Helena’s top-30 total to 13 runners.

Another 17 Helena runners crossed the finish line, led by freshman Mara Wirth in 35^th (24:04, PR). Also running for the Bengals were sophomore Brigitt Bryce (41^st, 24:36, PR), sophomore Iris McClain (52^nd, 25:10, SB), sophomore Charlotte Crowley (56^th, 25:27, PR), senior Ellie Zipfel (559^th, 25:35, SB), freshman Nara Kauffman (60^th, 25:46, season opener), senior Ava Irey (62^nd, 25:57, SB), freshman Leah Melton (63^rd, 26:03, PR), sophomore Ellie Runnion (65^th, 26:24, SB), junior Maizy Parrett (72^nd, 26:43, PR), freshman Ida Munson (86^th, 27:49), senior Madee Guzynski (89^th, 27:54), senior Maren Fox (97^th, 28:39, season opener), senior Esme Soller (101^st, 29:19, season opener), senior Elsie Munson (107^th, 30:15, season opener), junior Margherita Giuliani (109^th, 30:43, season opener), and sophomore Imara Lane (116^th, 33:41, season opener).

JV Boys

In boys junior varsity competition, junior Ander Svingen ran steadily to fifth place in a 17:56, freshman Hank Coburn made a late charge to finish sixth in a personal best 18:01, junior Ben Blanksma – running just his second career race – placed 7^th in a personal best 18:06, senior Titus Wetzel ran to a season best of 18:18 in 8^th place, and Graham Coleman closed out the scoring as the fifth runner in a season-opening 18:23 for 10^th place. Just off his shoulder was sophomore Milo Sealey in 11^th with a time of 18:27.

Like the girls, Helena’s boys were well represented with another 30 runners finishing beyond the first eight across the line.

Also running for the Bengals were junior Apollo Althoff (18^th, 18:38, PR), sophomore Levi Johnson (28^th, 19:10, PR), freshman Grey Haladay (38^th, 19:20, PR), junior Sean Carney (41^st, 19:23, SB), junior Ravin Bury (45^th, 19:30, SB), senior Will Kreissler (48^th, 19:34, SB), junior Noah Flynn (62^nd, 19:56, PR), senior Asher Hazen (63^rd, 20:04, SB), sophomore Evan Kaiser (71^st, 20:16, SB), junior Grayson Trum (73^rd, 20:18, SB), freshman Calvin Mogstad (77^th, 20;24, PR), freshman Kroy Bermingham (86^th, 20:38, season opener), freshman Reiden Dahlgren (99^th, 20:55, PR), freshman Brice Beutelschies (101^st, 20:56, PR), sophomore Reiter McVie (102^nd, 20:56), senior Micah Langdji (110^th, 21:16, PR), freshman Sam Royal (122^nd, 21:42, PR), junior Spruce Bacon (125^th, 21:44, PR), senior Henry Coy (132^nd, 21:56, SB), freshman Scott Hinckley (149^th, 22:30, PR), freshman Clinton Stops (159^th, 22:50, PR), sophomore Ben Cupino (162^nd, 22:51, SB), sophomore Isaac Davant (188^th, 23:55), sophomore Tim Wilkins (195^th, 24:11, PR), junior Leslie Carr (202^nd, 24:33, season opener), junior Kingston Downing (203^rd, 24:33, season opener), sophomore Ryan Carney (204^th, 24:34, season opener), senior Elliot Cleary (219^th, 25:59, SB), freshman Ben Mincemoyer, 229^th, 27:18, season opener), and freshman Ansen Hinck (237^th, 30:29, PR).

What’s Next?

After back-to-back Friday meets in far-away places (Billings and Kalispell), the Bengals return to action closer to home. The next head to the always competitive Bozeman Invitational at Bridger Creek Golf Course on Saturday, Sept. 12. Competition starts at 4 p.m.

Click Here for Meet Results

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The Helena Bengals opened their season with a splash as overcast skies and light rain greeted runners from 64 teams at Amend Park in Billings on Friday.

The Bengal girls swept both the varsity and junior varsity titles, while the boys varsity squad placed a strong second — close behind reigning state champion Bozeman — and the JV boys matched the girls with a commanding victory of their own.

Across the board, Helena athletes showed enthusiasm and competitive grit on the course, and outstanding support for their teammates whenever they weren’t competing.

Varsity Girls

The varsity girls’ win was led by freshman Willa Sweeney, who opened her HHS career with poise and placed 12th in 19:01. Helena scored 87 points to top Gallatin (115) and Cody, Wyoming (140).

Freshmen Clara Ostby (16th, 19:22) and McKenlee Young (20th, 19:32) were close behind, followed by senior Isabel Ward (21st, 19:33). Senior Kortney McKay rounded out the scoring five with a strong 28th-place finish in 19:52. Junior and first-year runner Izzy Lundstrom impressed in her debut (34th, 20:03), and junior Harper Johnson delivered a PR in her first varsity cross country competition (48th, 20:35).

Early in the race, the Bengals — coming off a third-place finish at last year’s state meet and featuring several new faces — ran with a patient, disciplined pack through the first mile. They showed resilience and strength over the final two miles, holding off a determined challenge from the 2025 state runner-up Raptors. Helena posted the meet’s best 1–5 spread, with just 50 seconds separating Sweeney from McKay.

Billings Central sophomore Addison Kegel continued her individual dominance with a win in 17:23, and Bozeman’s Phoebe Maixner (18:02) and Hellgate’s Reed Stromberg (18:22) completed the top three.

Varsity Boys

Senior Milo Kauffman led the Bengals with a top-three finish in 15:40, while Bozeman junior Taylor Neil won the race in 15:22. Sophomore Emory Kreissler (8th, 16:19 PR) and senior Joel Melton (12th, 16:29 PR) joined Kauffman in the top 15, but Bozeman’s depth carried the day, 67–78.

Junior Foster Warner (31st, 17:00 PR) and freshman Derek Bury (32nd, 17:00) completed Helena’s scoring five, and sophomore Tristan Hill (44th, 17:17 PR) and senior Dan Williams (65th, 17:51 PR) were the Bengals’ sixth and seventh runners. Helena’s 1–5 spread of 1:20 trailed only Worland, Wyoming’s 50-second gap.

JV Girls

Seniors Emmie Bermingham and Mary Clement dominated from the gun, finishing first and second in 20:22 and 20:33 to guide the girls JV team to a massive winning margin of 97 points. Senior Ellie Coburn added a fifth-place finish in 21:29, showcasing the Bengals’ depth as teammates poured in close behind.

Sophomore Ivy Kyle placed eighth (21:48), freshman Haddie Dailey was 14th (21:59), junior Alexa Pipinich finished 16th (22:00), and freshman Grace Williams crossed as Helena’s seventh runner in 18th (22:11). Senior Aven Baker added an eighth Bengal in the top 25 with her 23rd-place finish (22:34). The JV girls posted an impressive 1–5 spread of 1:36.

Helena scored 20 points, well ahead of Billings West (117) and Gallatin (127).

JV Boys

Junior Ander Svingen led the JV boys with a fourth-place finish in 17:44, powering Helena to 46 points and a team win over Bozeman (65) and Hardin (111).

Sophomore Milo Sealey backed him in 11th (18:19), and juniors Ben Blanksma and Reid Hayes finished 17th and 18th, both in 18:31. Senior Titus Wetzel was Helena’s fifth scorer in 22nd (18:55), while freshman Hank Coburn (23rd, 18:55) and junior Apollo Althoff (24th, 18:55) ensured the Bengals’ top seven finished inside the top 25. Their 1–5 spread of 1:10 trailed only Billings West’s 1:00.

Notes

The Bengals were everywhere on Friday, with 38 boys and 30 girls finishing races. Those numbers are expected to rise significantly next week at the Flathead Invitational in Kalispell. A program-record 60 boys and 47 girls are participating in cross country this season.