Seeley-Swan Cross Country finishes second at State

KALISPELL, MONTANA – On a snow-covered course, 85 runners battled cold and wind during the Class C girls race at the Montana High School Association championships on Oct. 24.

The Seeley-Swan Blackhawks came into the race as defending team champions and lost a close race to Manhattan Christian by one point, 29-30.

"It was tough watching them out there, they were slipping around on the course," coach Shawn Holmes said. "But they ran hard in these conditions. I'm so proud of them."

The Blackhawks raced Manhattan Christian earlier in the season, coming away with the win.

"Manhattan Christian kind of came out of nowhere," Sariah Maughan, the 2018 state champion, said. "Props to them for pulling it off out there- it just wasn't our day.

Maughan finished sixth on Saturday in 23:36.91 followed by her sister Emily (8), Kyla Conley (16), Ava Thornsberry (18) and Hannah Ayers (20).

"I really think we did really well despite the tough conditions," Thornsberry said. "We did the best we could today."

In the boys' race, Seeley-Swan freshman Conner Chadwick finished his first state cross country meet in 24:34.97, almost running a season best despite the conditions.

"He'd never run cross before, so he's come a long ways," Holmes said. "I was really happy watching him out there."

In the team race, Manhattan Christian won their fifth straight title, the first Class C team to do so.

The Eagles were led by 2018 state champion Riley Schott, who finished runner up on Saturday.

"I have the most respect for my teams," Eagles coach Nate Te Slaa said. "I always think cross country runners are the toughest athletes and today just proves that over and over. Not just my runners, but every runner out there."

Te Slaa added, "It was a tough, tough day and they just came here to run, and that's impressive."