Winterlike conditions greeted the Lady Hawks at the State Cross Country Meet at Kalispell. In the picture above, a snow blower clears the start of the course before the race, as bundled up competitors prepare to run. (Photo courtesy Ashley Emmons)
The Broadus Lady Hawk Cross Country team made the long drive to Kalispell last week for the State Meet. The team left Thursday to much fanfare from the PRCDHS student body, seeing their team off in front of the school and being escorted out of town by a chorus of fire trucks. The Cross Country team headed west into the maw of an October storm which would cover most of Montana by the end of the weekend.
The trip up to Kalispell went well, but by Friday the storm began to dump snow on the course, around the time the Class A and B runners completed their competition.
Class C and AA racers had to wait until Saturday, with the Class C competitors running first, and "breaking trail" through the newly dumped snow at the Rebecca Farm race site. The Rebecca Farms site located northwest of Kalispell holds a number of dressage and show jumping equestrian events, as well as shows of the Glacier Symphony, along with the Cross Country running event.
Race officials used a snow blower to clear out the snow at the beginning of the race, but further into the course the competitors had to fend for themselves.
Broadus Cross Country Coach Ashley Emmons told us that by race time, 4-5" of heavy, wet snow blanketed the course, with temps hovering around 15 degrees and a cold wind bringing the wind chill down into the single digits.
The Broadus team consisting of Lea Aye, Rheanna Schroeder, Rachel Rasmussen, Abigail Martin, and Lacey Robinson ran hard through the snow and cold to win 11th as a team out of 15 teams, with Aye placing 35th, Schroeder 42nd, Rasmussen 53rd, Martin 59th, and Robinson 81st.
Emmons told us that most of the competitors were around three minutes slower than their normal times due to the tough conditions. Lindsey Paulson of Belt/Centerville won the event with a 20 minute 50 second run, while Manhattan Christian won the team event.
The drive home was eventful due to the snow and poor road conditions, with the team making it as far as Bozeman on Saturday night, then braving terrible roads until they were east of Billings.
Adding to the adversity the Cross Country team dealt with over the weekend, when the team checked into their hotel in Kalispell on Friday, they found mouse droppings and stains on their beds. Fortunately the team was able to find new rooms at a different establishment, which in itself was a feat considering the State Meet taking up nearly all the available lodging in town.
The Lady Hawks will look to improve their performance next season, as four of the five team members are Juniors.
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