Lady Blackhawks out in front

The Seeley-Swan High School Cross country team competed in two meets this week, the first in St. Ignatius Sept. 18 and the second in Pablo Sept. 15. Freshman Hannah Ayers and sophomore Sariah Maughan are ranked in the top five in the state for Varsity Girls. Eighth-grader Emily Maughan has yet to lose a Middle School Race and is first in the state for middle school girls.

St. Ignatius

Hannah and Sariah finished in the top five in the girls varsity meet. Ayers finished with a new personal record in second place finishing in 21:53.87 behind Beatrix Frissell of Polson, 19:53.55. Sariah finished fourth in 22:24.87.

"I told Hannah and Sariah to just do it together and pretty much pull each other along," said Head Coach Zelda Haines. "That is pretty much what they did until Sariah got to the hill [on pavement]. That bothers her knees and her hips and she had to stop at the top. That is when Hannah had to go ahead."

Haines told junior Jayla Kauffman to push hard that first mile which she did. She finished with a personal record for this year finishing in 23rd place in 30:47.38.

"We will just keep working on her first mile and maintain after that," said Haines who was happy with her finish.

Junior Caleb Maughan led the Blackhawks finishing 23 of 59 in the Boy's Varsity race. He finished in 21:29.66. Senior Cordell Turner finished in 22:56 and junior Levi Reinitz in 24:30.29.

Emily Maughan finished first in the Middle School race in a field of 73 boys and girls. She ran a 9:35.37. This was six seconds ahead of the first place boy, Andrew Rush of St. Ignatius, and 1:16 ahead of the nearest girl, Cedar Hunt of St. Ignatius.

"She's a beast," said Haines.

Eighth-graders Tru Good and Tia Good ran together again finishing in 16th and 17th place, 13:08.32 and 13.08.54, for the girls. Sixth-grader Sam Ayers continues to improve finishing in 11:35.70, 13th place for the boys.

Pablo - Silver Fox Golf Course

Haines said that Hannah was the "little star" of the Varsity meet. She beat her personal record set earlier in the week by 52 seconds finishing in 21:01.5. This placed her 12th in the field of 70 varsity girls. She is now ranked third in the state for varsity girls cross country.

"She had an outstanding race," said Haines who added they will continue to train at a higher elevation.

Because she is a dual athlete, Jayla ran with the junior varsity girls so she could make it back to Seeley Lake for her volleyball game. She finished 33rd of 45 girls in 31:02.3.

Sariah did not race because of the volleyball game. She is currently ranked fifth in the state with her 21:07.3 time from the Flathead Invite.

Levi was the only varsity boy to race in Pablo. Haines said he was hurting from an injury he did at home. He ran a 24:11.2 finishing 86 out of 88.

"Most kids wouldn't have run," said Haines. "I was really proud of his finish."

Emily and Sam were the only racers in the middle school race that was a 2.1 mile course, 0.6 miles longer than any race they had done in the past.

Prior to the race, they announced Emily as the current state record holder in the middle school with her 8:37 mile and a half time.

"They kind of painted a target on her back," said Haines. "I told her I don't want you to follow anyone, I just want you to go out and lead this race."

Haines said within the first 400 yards, she was by herself. "She just used the golf cart as a rabbit and she pushed the golf cart along."

Emily finished in 13:07, ahead of all the boys and girls in the race.

Sam finished in 14:54. Haines was pleased with his race being his first 2.1 mile.

The next meet is Thursday, Sept. 20 at Thompson Falls followed by Tuesday, Sept. 25 in Arlee.