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Glacier Freshman Ends Standout Season with State Title

Annie Hill claims AA title; Flathead girls, Glacier boys pick up third-place trophies

By Dillon Tabish

For her usual pre-race routine, Annie Hill went for a calm warm-up jog alongside her dad Micah.

But once the race started, Kalispell’s young runner was on her own, out front and uncatchable.

Last weekend in Helena, Hill capped her exceptional freshman season with a well-earned Class AA state cross country championship, crossing the finish line 30 seconds ahead of her next closest competition. She clocked 17:11.88 after three miles, an impressive feat for any female racer, especially one without any competition to push her.

After only one season, Hill has already proved herself unique. Earlier this fall, she won the Mountain West Classic in Missoula, unseating three-time winner Makena Morley and clocking one of the fastest times in state history, 16:39.64.

On Saturday, Hill closed the first chapter of what’s likely to be a remarkable journey over the next four years.

“It’s a great state championship for her. She’s worked real hard all summer and all season,” said Mike McLean, Glacier’s cross country coach.

The Flathead girls brought home another top-three trophy from the state meet. Kaitlin Wride finished seventh, 18:20, to lead the Bravettes to third place. A year after finishing 10th as a team, Flathead tallied 101 points. Lauren Clark placed 16th (18:58), Elizabeth Thompson was 19th (19:05), Mackenzie Bouma earned 25th (19:25) and Nicole Bouma was 34th (19:45).

Glacier finished sixth as a team with 174 points. Bailey Smith just missed out on all-state, placing 18th (19:02).

Bozeman won its eighth team championship, edging Missoula Hellgate by two points, 60 to 62.

The Bozeman boys dashed Glacier’s hopes of taking over the top spot in Class AA. The Hawks had five runners in the top 16 en route to their seventh state title.

Glacier placed three runners in the top 15 and brought home a third-place trophy. A year after earning second with 99 points, the Wolfpack tallied 95 points, two behind second-place Billings Senior. Kade McCutcheon finished sixth (15:48.31), Logan Harmon was 13th (15:53.02) and Brock Sandry earned 14th (15:56.82). Tevyn Stetson finished 23rd (16:18.12) and Ruben Castren was 39th (16:41.92).

Flathead’s Sylas Schutt placed eighth (15:49.39). Jake Perrin narrowly missed all-state, placing 19th (16:11.11).

Helena’s Aidan Reed cruised to victory in 15:22.

State XC

Bill Roberts Golf Course, Helena

BOYS
Team Results

1, Bozeman 42; 2, Billings Senior 93; 3, Kalispell Glacier 95; 4, Missoula Hellgate 118; 5, Helena 123; 6, Kalispell Flathead 150; 7, Billings West 201; 8, Helena Capital 202; 9, Missoula Sentinel 226; 10, Great Falls CMR 241; 11, Billings Skyview 266; 12, Great Falls 309; 13, Butte 371; 14, Missoula Big Sky 434.
Individual Results – All State
1, Aidan Reed, HEL, 15:22.81; 2, Dontae Baker, CAP, 15:36.47; 3, Riley Collins, BOZ 15:37.22; 4, Chase Equall, BOZ, 15:38.58; 5, Marshall Beatty, MSN, 15:39.14; 6, Kade McCutcheon, GLA, 15:48.31; 7, Caleb Allen, BOZ, 15:48.74; 8, Sylas Schutt, FLT, 15:49.39; 9, Dylan Johnson, SEN, 15:49.66; 10, Layne Ryerson, HEL, 15:50.31; 11, Peder Rickbeil, SEN, 15:51.07; 12, Orin Clark, BOZ, 15:51.55; 13, Logan Harmon, GLA, 15:53.02; 14, Brock Sandry, GLA, 15:56.82; 15, Carter Gall, SEN, 15:57.58

GIRLS
Team Results

1, Bozeman 60; 2, Missoula Hellgate 62; 3, Kalispell Flathead 101; 4, Missoula Sentinel 119; 5, Billings Senior 134; 6, Kalispell Glacier 174; 7, Billings West 195; 8, Helena 210; 9, Billings Skyview 225; 10, Helena Capital 272; 11, Great Falls CMR 283; 12, Great Falls 330; 13, Missoula Big Sky 356; 14, Butte 362.
Individual Results – All State
1, Annie Hill, GLA, 17:11.88; 2, Sabrina Sterbis, MBS, 17:41.37; 3, Samantha Sayer, MHG, 17:46.65; 4, Christina Aragon, SEN, 17:50.62; 5, Piper Meuwissen, BOZ, 17:51.21; 6, Amanda Nelson, SKY, 18:06.01; 7, Kaitlin Wride, FLA, 18:20.81; 8, Miranda Foster, MHG, 18:27.96; 9, Kenenni Wiegand, BOZ, 18:28.10; 10, Molly MacDonald, MSN, 18:33.32; 11, Keegan Day, SKY, 18:34.84; 12, Bridget Creel, BOZ, 18:39.93; 13, Allison Monahan, MHG, 18:42.81; 14, Sarah Foster, BOZ, 18:46.27; 15, Ellen Brooks, MSN, 18:57.04