Broadus XC Runners Brave The Weather

The Lady Hawk Cross Country team took on a hail storm at the meet in Billings, and last week went on to face heat and the dreaded Gas Cap Hill at the Hardin Invitational, last Friday.

Gas Cap Hill is a notoriously long, tough climb for the racers, and this year the hot conditions prompted race coordinators to have a person at the top of the climb spraying the racers down with water to cool them off as they summited the hill.

Broadus XC Coach Ashley Emmons told us that while the heat is often a factor at the Hardin Meet due to the early season timing, this year was particularly brutal, with nearly all the competitors feeling the pressure and turning in slower times than usual as the temps climbed towards triple digits.

Three Broadus racers competed in Hardin, including Rheanna Schroeder, Senior, and Rebekah Rasmussen, a Sophmore, who both competed in the Varsity race, as well as Mercy Brost, a Senior, who competed in the JV race. Overall Rasmussen placed 51st in the race with a 28:17 and Schroeder 58th with a 29:52, while Brost placed 64th in her race with a 39:59. Karis Brightwings-Pease of Hardin won the Girls Varsity race, turning in a 19:46 time.

This week the XC Team travels to Red Lodge for a race which has proven to be popular over the years, winding through the hills and near a stream just above Red Lodge and presenting a nice view of the town, according to Emmons.

On Tuesday, Sepember 13th, Broadus will host the home XC Meet, at Rolling Hills Golf Course. We had not received specific times as of press time; action generally begins mid-morning.

Emmons told us that volunteers are needed for the race, in duties such as course managers to keep the racers on track, a trail person to ride in a golf cart behind the last racer, and someone to hand out ribbons at the finish line. Please contact Mike Richards or Ashley Emmons if you'd like to volunteer.