CROSS COUNTRY 2008 PREVIEW

The Whitefish girls' and boys' cross country teams are both pursuing a third straight trophy at state this fall.

The rest of Class A, it seems, will be pursuing the Bulldogs, especially their girls.

Whitefish returns four of the five girls that helped the school win its first ever state title in the sport a year ago, including individual winner Loni Hanson.

The junior posted a time of 19:28 in winning the girls' Class A competition last October in Helena. This year's state meet was moved to Missoula's UM Golf Course for Oct. 25.

Hanson will be joined by Bailey Eaton, who was 11th, Carly Schwickert (16th) and Stella Holt (17th), who were freshmen on last year's team.

Hanson and crew are already in end-of-season form as she won the Libby Invite last week with a sub-19 minute time and her next four teammates were within 1:11.

"I don't see anybody coming close to them," veteran Ronan coach Gale Decker said. "Their top five are so deep, but even if they stumble they have kids backing them up."

The Hamilton and Ronan girls' teams will be in the mix as well. The Broncs return senior state-placers Danica Loucks (8th) and Tori Porcella (9th) and add track standout Misha Trotter, who played soccer in previous seasons.

"Whitefish and Hamilton finished 1-2 at state last year," Decker said. "I could see them doing that again."

The Maidens, who won back-to-back titles before the Bulldogs won last year, bring back senior Sadie McMillan, who was fourth at state two seasons ago, but fell to 28th last fall.

Two more names to watch are Polson sophomore Mesa Starkey, who was second at state a year ago and Bigfork junior Kayla Carlson, who was 13th at state, but has already run a 18:39 this season.

The Whitefish boys, like the girls, finished third in 2006, but followed it with a second third-place trophy last fall. There are hopes to improve on that finish this season.

And why not?

Senior Drew Coco, who was fifth at state last year, appears to be the top dog this season since the other top four placers graduated. His time in last week's Libby Invitational (15:31.28) was better than last year's winning State A time, turned in by Laurel's Patrick Casey.

Don't count Browning out of the boys' race. The Indians have won three of the last five titles - including last year's - and they always seem to reload.

"They're always right there," Decker said. "We'll be chasing them until proven differently."

Also, the Hamilton boys should be strong with all-state placers, seniors Jake Jessop (6th) and Ian Curtiss (14th), coming back.

"They were second at state last year, but they lost a couple key kids," Decker said. "I don't see them being as strong, but they're still one of the best teams I've seen."

Corvallis sophomore Chris Jessop was 15th at state a year ago.