Coach Zentz

Bengal Girls Win Mountain West; Boys 2nd in Deep Field

JV Squads Put Together Dominant Double Win

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.

Bengal Girls Sweep Bozeman Invite

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.

Bengals Run the Table at Flathead Invite

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.

Bengals Open 2026 Season Strong at Billings Invitational

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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.

Boys 2nd, Girls 3rd on Spectacular Team Day at State Meet in Missoula

Kauffman, Hill, Hinderman, McKay, Ward All-State; First Time Both Teams Reach Podium in 40 Years

Complete Results

Photo Gallery

Vincent Van Gogh once said, “Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.” Saturday was a great day for Helena High cross country, and true to Van Gogh’s quote, that greatness was the result of many small steps along the way and many small things coming together at exactly the right time.

The Bengals’ double podium at the 2025 state meet in Missoula was the result of showing up with consistency since the start of summer training in June, running mile after mile and rep after rep with intention, committing to daily strength and mobility work, approaching competition with curiosity, and then, of course, culminating with the magic of seven runners in each race performing with poise and composure on the day it mattered most.

Helena’s boys collected second place for the second year in a row with three runners earning All-State medals and the girls returned to the podium for the first time since 2020 with a third-place finish and two runners claiming All-State honors. While the All-State finishers may get the headlines, the trophies were clearly the result of two complete teams of seven runners rising to the occasion on a beautiful autumn afternoon at the University of Montana Golf Course.

The double podium was Helena’s first since both teams claimed hardware in 1985. The boys were second and girls were third that year, as well.

Heading into the 2025 state meet, Helena’s boys appeared poised to earn a spot in the top three after a strong finish to the regular season, but with the nationally-ranked Bozeman Hawks as the clear favorite, it was unclear whether they would have an opportunity to tussle for the top spot, battle it out with Hellgate for second, or potentially fend off a challenge from Glacier for third.

As it turned out, Bozeman put things out of reach for the win early in the race and finished with 41 points, while Helena and Hellgate both left it all out on the course in a fierce battle for second.

The Bengals emerged as runners up with 85 points, thanks in large part to junior Milo Kauffman’s strong third-place finish in 15:54 behind Bozeman’s Miles Halvorsen and Taylor Neil, who crossed the finish line in 15:34 and 15:42. It was the third consecutive all-state finish for Kuaffman who was 10th in 2023 and fourth in 2024.

Commanding finishes by seniors Dylan Hill (16:21), Garrett Hinderman (16:22), and Ed Coleman (16:42, personal best) in 13^th, 15^th, and 25^th, put the Bengals in strong position to secure second, and Emory Kreissler (16:47) posted the top finish by a freshman in the AA division in 29^th to lock up the second step on the podium for Helena. Coleman’s effort was an outlier as he was the only runner in the top 30 with a personal best Saturday. Junior Joel Melton and sophomore Foster Warner were 36^th and 56^th for the Bengals in 16:54 and 17:25, respectively.

Hellgate posted 101 points in third, Glacier placed fourth with 143, and Flathead was fifth with 147.

The boys trophy was their third in a row after placing third in 2023 and second in 2024. But what made Saturday’s performance so impressive was that the Bengals managed to repeat their runner-up performance from a year ago with four new runners in the lineup after losing standouts Elliot Stimpson, Henry Sund, Eli Highness, and Jake Matthews to graduation.

The Bengal girls left the start with a focus on positioning themselves in a way that allowed them to be competitive with the top teams when the racing amped up in the second half of the race.

Early in the race, the Bengals intentions were clear as they positioned themselves well in the field of 110 AA runners, and they needed a big day to earn a spot among the state’s best teams. Bozeman entered the meet as a big favorite to win and many expected defending champion Gallatin be in strong position to claim second, while Helena, Glacier, and Billings West all had eyes fixed on third.

Bozeman won with 49 points and Gallatin raced to a confident second place finish with 63 points, the battle for third was fierce throughout between the Helena (88) and Glacier (99), and West placed fifth with 149.

Junior Kortney McKay, junior Isabel Ward, senior Kate Lee, and senior Cooper Judd set the pace for Helena in the early part of the race in 12^th, 13^th, 14^th and, 19^th after the first mile, while junior Mary Clement was 32^nd, giving Helena 90 points in fourth place at that stage. Glacier had 85 in third – thanks in large part to the Wolfpack’s dominant 1-2 duo of Ada Thiel and Lauren Bissen toying with the top 5 runners in the field.

At two miles Glacier (84) widened its lead over Helena (92) to eight points as the Bengals’ top five remained in the same order in 11^th, 14^th, 18^th, 20^th, and 29^th.

As the race continued, things appeared dire for Helena as Thiel and Bissen dominated the final mile and crossed the finish line first and second in 18:21 and 18:22 to give the Wolfpack a massive advantage, but McKay (19:16) and Ward (19:25) secured All-State finishes in 9^th and 13^th to give the Bengals a strong 1-2 punch, as well.

The battle for third, however, came down to the Bengals’ depth, which has been a strength all season. Judd moved up three places in the final mile to finish 17^th in 19:46, Lee was 22^nd in 19:57, and Clement, a consistent force for the Bengals all season, placed 29^th in 20:04, which gave Helena 88 points and placed Helena’s top five runner’s ahead of Glacier’s third runner. That strength in depth locked up third place for the Bengals as the Wolfpack finished with 99 points.

Had anyone faltered among Helena’s top five runners, junior Emmie Bermingham and Wynona Schmidt provided even more depth in 34^th and 37^th place with times of 20:15 and 20:16, respectively. That meant all seven of Helena’s runners placed among the top third of the field, something only one other team – Gallatin – accomplished Saturday.

It was an exceptional race for the girls, who have move up the standings each of the past four years – 2022 (10^th), 2023 (6^th), 2024 (5^th), 2025 (3^rd). Demonstrating how well the girls raced, each runner improved upon their time from the same course they contested Sept. 20 at the Mountain West Classic. Collectively, the Bengals’ seven runners were 3 minutes, 35 seconds faster. Here’s a breakdown of how their state times compare to those from Mountain West.

McKay -7 seconds
Ward -29 seconds
Judd -59 seconds
Lee -30 seconds
Clement -39 seconds
Bermingham -43 seconds
Schmidt -26 seconds

That brings an end to the official season for Helena, but 56 of the Bengal runners will now turn their attention to the Nike Cross Regionals meet on Nov. 15 in Spokane, where they will go up against the top teams from seven states – Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Wyoming, Alaska, and Hawaii.

Bengals Roll at Crosstown and Gather Momentum for State Meet on Oct. 25

Helena Varsity, Junior Varsity Sweep Team Titles

Complete Results

Photo Gallery

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 8^th and 9^th. 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 7^th and 8^th.

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 (5^th, PR 19:25), senior Kate Lee (6^th, PR 19:37), and junior Mary Clement (7^th, 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 9^th and 10^th 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.

Boys Win 7 of 7; Girls 4th with Team’s 2nd Best Score in Team History

Ivy Kyle Claims Title to Guide JV Girls to 2nd; JV Boys 3rd

Complete Results

Photo Gallery

Most of the top cross country runners in Montana convened at Helena’s Bill Roberts Golf Course on Thursday for the 20^th Capital City 7 of 7, and the Helena High Bengals took advantage of running on their home course for the first time this season with some memorable efforts.

The meet uses a unique format, where seven competitors from each school are broken down based on how they rank on their respective teams – No. 1s vs. No. 1s and so on – and all seven runners count toward the team score with a perfect score (seven victories) adding up to a total of seven.

The Helena varsity boys defended their title and home turf in a team battle that came down to the final race, and after sophomore Foster Warner opened the upset bid with a win in the No. 7 race, junior Milo Kauffman sealed the victory with a strong second-place finish in the No. 1 race. All seven boys placed 3^rd or better in their respective races.

In varsity girls competition, despite posting their second-lowest score in meet history, the Bengals finished fourth (29 points), just 6 points out of second in a tightly packed competition that saw Bozeman (19), Gallatin (23), and Glacier (25) claim the top three spots. Helena’s girls raced strong in all seven races with every runner finishing 6^th or better. The only time the Bengals scored fewer than 29 points was the 18 they chalked up in 2020 when the race featured just 8 teams because of COVID. This year, the race featured 49 teams.

Bengals Topple Records in Great Falls

Varsity Sweeps; JV Boys Win and Girls Place Third

Photo Gallery

Meet Results

The 5K at Anaconda Hills Golf Course in Great Falls is among the most challenging cross country courses in Montana, challenging runners with nonstop elevation change and 13 hairpin turns. The Helena Bengals, however, quieted the noise about difficulty and delivered an breathtaking performance Friday.

Junior Milo Kauffman set a course record to lead the Helena boys to a dominant victory and junior Kortney McKay posted the fastest time ever by a Bengal at Anaconda Hills to guide the girls to victory, despite the team toeing the line without three of its regular top 7 runners.

Kauffman seemingly accelerated with each turn and maintained his rhythm up and down the hills to steadily increase his advantage throughout the race, finishing in 16:08. That time eclipsed the previous record of 16:15 set in 2023 by former Great Falls Bison and current MSU Bobcat Ryan Harrington.

Anaconda Hills 5K Top 10 Boys Milo Kauffman, Helena, 16:08 (2025) R. Harrington, Gt. Falls, 16:15 (2023) John Spinti, Great Falls, 16:18 (2023) C. Steckelberg, Gallatin, 16:29 (2022) Elliot Stimpson, Helena, 16:37 (2024) Caleb Tomac, Havre, 16:37 (2023) D. Hamilton, Bozeman, 16:41 (2017) Chase Green, Sentinel, 16:48 (2021) Henry Sund, Helena, 16:51 (2023) Emerson Hamma, CMR, 16:52 (2025)	Anaconda Hills 5K Top 10 Girls Camila Noe, Bozeman, 18:43 (2017) Tiahna Vladic, Senior, 18:54 (2017) E. DeGrandpre, Hellgate, 19:15 (2017) Alex Moore, Bozeman, 19:35 (2017) Terra Trom, Bozeman, 19:19 (2018) Lindsey Paulson, Belt, 19:31 (2021) Kortney McKay, Helena, 19:41 (2025) Nat. Nicholas, Bozeman 19:50 (2020) S. Damyanovich, CMR 19:57 (2025) Malia Bradford, Sentinel 19:57 (2022)
* Since 2017 – Switched from 3M to 5K.

That wasn’t the only highlight for the Helena boys, whose five scoring runners placed 1^st, 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th, and 8^th to finish with 21 points in their three-team grouping with Billings West (48 points) and Billings Skyview (61).

While Kauffman ran away with the victory, seniors Garrett Hinderman and Ed Colemen, and freshman Emory Kreissler did yeoman’s work in third, fourth and fifth, respectively, with times of 17:07, 17:11, and 19:19. And senior Dylan Hill, showing good progress on his way back from an injury interruption, was 8^th in 17:36. Hinderman, Coleman, and Kreissler posted the 4th, 5th, and 7th fastest times ever by Bengals on the course.

Also running varsity for the Helena boys were junior Joel Melton (10^th, 17:46), sophomore Foster Warner (13^th, 18:02), junior Titus Wetzel (18^th, 18:44), and sophomore Ander Svingen (19^th, 18:44).

While KcKay spearheaded Helena’s effort on the girls side in a winning time of 19:41 – 7^th all-time on the course, her supporting cast ran impressively in a competitive grouping featuring a strong and deep team from Billings West. The Bengals finished with 31 points, West was second with 39, CM Russell claimed third with 75, and Belgrade posted 98.

McKay was pushed to a big performance as she was trailed throughout the race by resilient CMR sophomore Stella Damyanovich, who finished second in 19:57.

Senior Kate Lee ran a patient race, working her way through the traffic and finishing fourth in 20:50, which ranks third all-time for Helena on the course. Next for the Bengals was junior Emmie Bermingham, who used a furious kick in the final downhill sprint to the finish to move into 8^th place in 21:10. Bermingham ran much of the race alongside teammate and senior Cooper Judd, who finished 11^th in 20:14, and senior Emily Davidson completed Helena’s scoring in 14^th with a time of 21:28. Bermingham, Judd and Davidson posted the 5th, 8th, and 11th fastest times ever by Bengals on the course.

The team’s depth was present, too, as Helena’s next four runners crossed the finish line soon after Davidson with freshman Ivy Kyle 15^th (21:30), freshman Mary Guzynski 17^th (21:50), junior Ellie Coburn 19^th (22:01), and sophomore Alexa Pipinich 21^st (22:05, personal record).

Worth noting, both Helena teams came out on top in the combined scoring (all groups compiled), as well.

Anaconda Hills 5K HHS Top 10 Boys Milo Kauffman, 16:08 (2025) Elliot Stimpson, 16:37 (2024) Henry Sund, 16:51 (2023) Garrett Hinderman, 17:07 (2025) Ed Coleman, 17:11 (2025) Dylan Hill, 17:15 (2024) *Emory Kreissler, 17:19 (2025)* Jake Matthews, 17:29 (2023) Henry Ballinger, 17:32 (2022) Jonah Fisher, 17:42 (2018)	Anaconda Hills 5K HHS Top 10 Girls *Kortney McKay, 19:41 (2025)* Kylie Hartnett, 20:23 (2018) *Kate Lee, 20:50 (2025)* Bria Plant, 21:07 (2023) *Emmie Bermingham, 21:10 (2025)* Katelyn McKay, 21:12 (2017) Claudia Downing, 21:12 (2017) *Cooper Judd, 21:14 (2025)* Katlyn McKay, 21:16 (2018) Alyssa Plant, 21:22 (2017)
* Since 2017 – Switched from 3M to 5K.

In JV competition, the Helena boys won a close race with 46 points, edging Capital (53), which lined up with the bulk of its varsity team – highlighting how strong the Bengals raced.

Senior Henry Sweeney led the way for Helena in 4^th place with a time of 18:40, while junior Dan Williams (7^th, 19:06), sophomore Graham Coleman (10^th, 19:19), sophomore Apollo Althoff (12^th, 19:26), and sophomore Ravin Bury (13^th, 19:26) placed the Bengals five scoring runners in the top 15.

Four additional Bengals earned a place in the top 50 – junior Cole Harris in 33rd, freshman Tristan Hill in 40^th, senior Enoch Johnson in 43^rd, and sophomore Sean Carney in 47^th – and junior Micah Langdji (23:47) and freshman Gabriel Waits (24:53) posted personal bests.

On the girls side, freshman Sadie Murray had the task of leading the team for the first time and did it with aplomb, running to fifth place in 23:30. Her consistent and determined effort guided the Bengals (77 points) to third place behind varsity groups from Capital (42) and Harlem (44).

Also scoring for Helena were junior Aven Baker 12^th in 24:03, junior Kumari Leland 15^th in 24:15, senior Emma Flinders 24^th in 24:53 and senior Wren Clum 26^th in 25:03. Also placing among the top 50 were junior Ellie Zipfel in 37^th, sophomore Myla Dahlke in 44^th, and sophomore Evelyn Harris in 50^th, while freshman Iris McClain posted a personal best of 26:43 and junior Kelia Gomes ran a season best of 26:44.

Helena returns to action Thursday, Oct. 9 with its first home meet, hosting the Capital City 7 of 7 at Bill Roberts Golf Course. The meet features a unique format for varsity, with each team’s top seven runners facing off in seven separate races. JV competition starts the meet at noon. Click here for more information.

Bengals Place Among Top 2 in All Four Races at Butte Invitational

Kauffman Collects Win to Guide Boys to Victory; Junior Varsity Girls Flirt With Perfect Score

Complete Results

Photo Gallery

Just five days after turning in a strong performance at the Mountain West Classic, Helena High was back to racing just five days later at the Butte Invitational and put together a string of stellar results on tired legs and in hot fall weather made more intense by sunny skies in Mining City’s elevated location.

The schedule opened with the junior varsity girls competition and the Bengals worked their way to the front of the pack early in the race before finishing first, second, third, fifth, and sixth to post a score of 17 points, just two shy of perfection. Hellgate was second with 82 and Gallatin finished third with 87.

Junior Emmie Bermingham, freshman Ivy Kyle, and junior Ellie Bermingham led through the midway point in the race and held off the competition to finish in that order atop the standings, separated by just 11 seconds. Bermingham won in 21:00, Kyle was second in 21:03, and Coburn was third in 21:11.

Meanwhile, senior Emily Davidson ran to fifth place with a time of 21:31 and freshman Mary Guzynski continued her impressive rookie campaign with the Bengals by moving past multiple runners in the final mile to place sixth in 21:45. Helena’s spread was just 45 seconds from its first through fifth runners.

Sophomores Harper Johnson and Alexa Pipinich were next across the line to put Helena’s top 7 in the top 15 overall as they placed 14^th in 22:14 and 15^th in 22:18, respectively. Freshman Sadie Murray (33^rd, 23:12) also garnered a spot in the top 50.

Helena’s junior varsity boys toed the line next and sophomore Foster Warner led the charge with a personal best run of 17:48 to guide the team to second with 50 points, just 11 behind Glacier’s 39.

Junior Titus Wetzel ran another strong race from start to finish to place sixth in 18:24, senior Henry Sweeney ran strong in eighth place with a time of 18:26, and sophomore Dan Williams crossed the finish in 18:33 to place 11^th, giving the Bengals four runners in the top 15. The trio of freshman Milo Sealey (24^th, 18:55), sophomore Graham Coleman (25^th, 18:56), and sophomore Apollo Althoff (26^th, 18:56) were Helena’s 5-7 runners and worked together to help one-another work their way up the standings throughout the race. Sophomore Ravin Bury (29^th, 19:12) also claimed a spot in the top 50.

After the junior varsity teams set the tone, Helena’s varsity squads kept the good vibes rolling as the girls placed second, just six points behind defending state runner-up Gallatin, and the boys finished first.

The girls were led by the reliable trio of junior Kortney McKay, senior Kate Lee, and junior Isabel Ward, who showed great grit and resolve near the front of the pack.

McKay, who has led the Bengals in their first four meets this season, ran a strong final mile and pushed hard to the finish to place fourth in 19:12 behind Glacier freshman Ada Thiel (18:51), Bozeman junior Tula Higman (18:54), and Flathead sophomore Everett Holland (19:12). Just a little further up the field, Kate Lee (19:51) and Isabel Ward (19:52) placed 11^th and 12^th to put three Bengals in the top 15. For Lee, her time was a 10^th of a second off her PR.

Junior Mary Clement, meanwhile, again demonstrated awesome growth as a competitor as she moved up four spots in the second half of the race, running her second fastest career time of 20:29.6 – just 0.7 seconds shy of a PR – to finish 18^th as Helena’s fourth runner for the third time in 2025. Freshman Wynona Schmidt, meanwhile, continued her patient rise and ran a personal best of 20:37 in 21^st, while senior Cooper Judd reeled in three competitors in the second half of the race to finish 23^rd in a personal best of 20:43.

The Bengals finished with 65 points, trailing only Gallatin’s 59 and ahead of West’s 106.

The day finished with a double win for the Bengals as junior Milo Kauffman threw down an aggressive charge through the second mile to break open a close race with Billings West senior Kye McAbee. Kuaffman ran away with the individual victory in 15:41 – more than 30 seconds ahead of second place.

That effort gave the Bengals the low stick it needed as freshman Emory Kreissler again backed Kauffman’s finish with a stellar eighth place in a personal best of 16:30, senior Garrett Hinderman coming back from illness battled to 14^th place finish in 16:47, senior Ed Coleman placed 23^rd in 17:07, and junior Dylan Hill debuted after overcoming injury with a time of 17:12 in 26^th.

That group of five Bengals scored 70, leading Hellgate’s 93 and Flathead’s 119 in second and third.

Helena’s sixth and seventh runners also placed in the top 50 with junior Joel Melton 41^st in 17:33 and sophomore Ander Svingen 48^th in 17:44.

Additional Highlights

While the focus for the team is pursuing excellence by giving one’s best, exercising curiosity by taking calculated risks and exhibiting bravery, and demonstrating love and unity, the byproduct of doing that consistently is often a personal or season best, and the Bengals experienced several of those Saturday. A whopping 13 additional boys ran personal bests in Butte to match the feats of Warner and Kreissler. Other personal bests Thursday included efforts by freshman Tristan Hill (19:56), sophomore Sean Carney (20:00), freshman Zephyr Gomes (20:26), freshman Levi Johnson (21:26), freshman Tre Phipps (21:39), freshman Reiter McVie (22:46), freshman Ben Cupino (23:05), junior Micah Langdji (23:49), freshman Emmett Morrison (23:55), freshman Gabriel Waits (25:07), freshman Tim Wilkins (25:33), and sophomore Santiago Arguelles (28:57). Helena juniors Asher Hazen (20:45) and Dane Moser (20:58) ran season bests. In addition to Schmidt and Judd posting PRs for the girls, sophomore Alexa Pipinich (22:18) and junior Quincey Higgins (26:57) also raised the bar. Running season bests for the Bengal girls in addition to Lee and Clement were juniors Esme Soller (26:02) and Kelia Gomes (27:00).

Next Up

While the Bengals had a quick turnaround this past week with just five days between meets, they get eight days to recharge and prepare for the next opportunity on their schedule – the Great Falls Invitational on Friday, Oct. 3 at Anaconda Hills Golf Course.

Girls Varsity and JV 3rd at Mountain West Classic; Kauffman leads boys

Complete Meet Results

Photo Gallery

Helena’s varsity and junior varsity girls finished third, junior Milo Kauffman posted a top-5 finish, and junior Kortney McKay placed herself in the top 15 in the largest Mountain West Classic field in history Saturday in Missoula under sunny blue skies.

Kauffman employed more conservative tactics than usual early in the varsity boys competition and the adjustment paid off in a race that featured 590 finishers. He moved up the field throughout the 15 minutes, 40.51 seconds it took him to navigate 5 kilometers, and he was less than 2 seconds out of third place at the finish.

The boys were without three of their top 7 runners but still managed to place 15^th out of 79 complete teams. Freshman Emory Kreissler ran a stellar race in his first Mountain West appearance, placing 49^th in 16:45, junior Joel Melton was the Bengals’ No. 3 finisher in 113^th with a time of 17:23, sophomore Ander Svingen was 151^st in 17:43, and sophomore Foster Warner placed 199^th in 18:10.

Mead of Spokane won the meet with 110 points, followed by Bozeman (111) and Cheney, another Washington team, placed third (272). The Bengals finished with 493 points.

While Kauffman posted the top individual performance for the Bengals, Helena’s girls ran strong collectively at both competitive levels to finish among the top 3.

McKay led the varsity squad to third by steadily moving through the pack to finish 13^th in 19:23. She was 26^th after 1 mile and 19^th after 2 miles, demonstrating good patience and resolve in a field that featured 486 finishers.

Junior Isa Ward ran another strong race start-to-finish, positioning herself well in the early stages, then picking up a few spots to come home in 34^th – 23 positions higher than a year ago – in a time of 19:54. Behind her was senior Kate Lee in 20:27, while freshman Wynona Schmidt and Mary Clement were the other big movers for the Bengals in 66^th and 67^th place, respectively.

After 1 mile, Schmidt was 106^th and Clement found herself in 87^th. A mile later, Schmidt found her teammate in the herd of runners and led them through the 2-mile mark in 78^th and 79^th place, before the duo each chipped away 12 more places before they crossed the finish line in 20:42 – a personal record for Schmidt – and 20:43.

Junior Emmie Bermingham finished next for the Bengals in 91^st place (20:58) and junior Ellie Coburn was the seventh runner in 136^th (21:33).

Bozeman claimed the top team spot with 67 points, followed by Gallatin with 163 and Helena with 220 – 16 points ahead of Mead and a big leap forward a year after the Bengals finished eighth at the meet. Montana teams flexed their muscles at Mountain West as West and Glacier finished fifth and sixth to put five teams in the top 6.

In JV competition, the Helena girls again demonstrated the team’s depth, as the Bengals placed third – just 4 points out of second, despite competing without three regular top 7 runners.

Senior Cooper Judd was the tip of the spear in 6^th place with a personal best of 20:45, and freshman up-and-comer Ivy Kyle wasn’t too far back in 8^th place with a personal best of 20:52.

Reliable senior Emily Davidson, meanwhile, crossed the finish line in 12^th place (21:18), sophomore Harper Johnson scored for the third time in three meets in 24^th (21:54), and junior Aven Baker was among the five scoring runners for the first time in her Bengal career in 91^st with a season best of 23:35. Juniors Kumari Leland (112^th, 23:57) and Ellie Zipfel (113^th, 24:00) were Helena’s sixth and seventh finishers, both running season bests.

Freshman Iris McClain, however, had the most notable day as she was taken off her feet by a panicked deer on the course a little past 1 mile into the race, but she brushed it off and quickly got back to her feet, and still ran a personal best time of 27:03.

The girls notably placed 10 runners in the top third of the 478-runner field.

Back to the boys action, Helena’s JV contingent placed fifth and were guided in their quest by senior Henry Sweeney who chalked up a season best of 18:14 in 22^nd place, while first-year runner and junior Titus Wetzel continued his strong start in 26^th with a time of 18:24.

Junior Daniel Williams was next across the line for the Bengals in 38^th (18:38), freshman Milo Sealey placed 42^nd in 18:45, and sophomore Apollo Althoff continued his momentum in the fifth scoring spot with a time of 18:55 in 49^th. Helena’s sixth and seventh runners were sophomore Graham Coleman (58^th, 19:03) and senior Enoch Johnson (106^th, 19:40).

The JV boys placed 11 runners among the top third of the 652-runner field.

Helena has a quick turnaround before its next meet as it heads south Thursday for the Butte Invitational.