Cross Country has been competed at the high school level for nearly 60 years. Boys Cross Country first competed as a Montana High School Association (MHSA) sanctioned sport in the fall of 1964 consisting of two classifications 'A' and 'B'. Eventually it was modified to include Class AA and Class C to stay uniform with basketball. Teams concluded their season in October every year since with the State Champions being crowned for each class.

The Girls first competed in Cross Country in the fall of 1971 and included all four classes right from the start to compete in conjunction with the already in place boys competition, one of the few sports that have done so.

Originally both the boys and girls courses were two miles in length before expanding to two and a half miles and eventually to the three miles that are ran today.

Cross Country has been available to student athletes in Harlem and Hays/Lodge Pole for many years. Both the Wildcats and Thunderbirds have had a number of athletes earn All-State honors through the years with a few even capturing state titles.

That opportunity wasn't available to those looking to compete in the sport at Chinook High School. That all changed this past spring when the decision was made to add the sport to the fall athletic Schedule. The response has been great and the 'Beeters are anxious to kick off their inaugural season at the Cut Bank Time Trials on Friday, September 2.

Head Coach Kendall Harwood will lead the 'Beeters this fall with five girls and two boys listed on the first ever 'Beeter Cross Country roster.

Senior Anna Terry will lead the team and while this may be her first year in High School Cross Country, she is very experienced runner.

Junior Ryley Hofeldt, sophomore Jeni Mord, freshman Kirbey Hofeldt and freshman Emma Klingaman round out the girls roster and are fairly new to the sport of distance running. Junior Corey Bilger has ran the 1,600 and 3,200 Meter races in spring track and should make the transition fairly well. Sophomore Lance Pitkanen will also run for the 'Beeters this fall.

Coach Harwood, isn't new to the sport, but it's been some time. "I had to remember back twenty plus years and try to recall what made my high school cross country experience so rewarding, and incorporate those elements into the our program. This year my goal as a coach is to make running something these kids will want to do their whole lives. There is nothing better than overcoming the pain in the beginning of the season, to running a full 5k and feeling great."

With the sport new to the school, finding suitable locations to run is still a work in progress, "We are still looking for unique trails to run at practice. If any readers would be willing to let us on their property near town the team would appreciate it! The Chinook Golf course has been allowing us to run a few practices out there. It's great for the kids to run on the soft green grass.

Harwood knows without question who will lead this team, "Anna is an amazing example of what it takes to have elite success in cross country. She put in the work this summer running multiple 5k races and even a marathon. I can see an improvement from track where she had a lot of success."

In addition Harwood noted her work ethic, "Her motivation to keep training through to the next season is the heart and soul of our team. I'm sad the team will only have her for one year, but she is really setting the standard for their success for years to come."

When he looks at the boys out this fall, Harwood is confident they can get the job done, "Corey and Lance are our only male runners this year. I am so happy to see both of them out there on a daily basis working hard to improve. I know it's been a difficult first two weeks getting back into training, but I'm excited to see how they improve as athletes throughout the season."

His take on the girls is not much different, "Every girl on the team starts and ends every practice with a smile. These new runners are all very coachable. I'll give them a route and distance, and they will go at it hard. I really couldn't ask for a better group of kids."

Coach Harwood expects to take all seven runners to the State Cross Country Meet in Missoula, "Three runners are needed to complete a scoring team. We will be able to post a score with our girls. Our boys, Corey, and Lance will still compete in the meets, but unfortunately will not be able to post a boys team score. I am hoping we can get a few more people interested for next year."

Any sport starting up needs to build interest in the program to be able to grow, "It takes a while to build a team. I am very happy with the numbers we got for year one, and I hope it keeps growing," said Harwood.

Why is he so confident all seven will qualify for the state meet, "We had a timed three mile during the first week of practice. All of the kids recorded a state qualifying time. I expect to be taking them all to Missoula for the state meet. "

Harwood hopes to see some things from his team this fall, "I would say to pay attention to their weekly improvements in time. I can already see these kids growing in more than just endurance. For practices the first two weeks we have been working on upping our mileage incrementally. We have been running dirt roads for hill workouts, the golf course for speed and distance, and even hit up the Beaver Creek Nature Trail for some rolling hills and trail running. My hopes for the season is for it to come to a conclusion with each of them having felt successful. Both individually and as a team."

Terry is the heart and sole of the 'Beeters inaugural season and hopes to leave a lasting impression and the team in a good position to build the program. With just one year to create something special if anyone can do it, she would be the one.

"I'm so thrilled that we got this team. I know that it's been brought to the board and shot down in the past but I'm just really grateful to everyone who helped make this possible. So with that being said I'm really excited to watch this team with a variety of different levels of experience and skills to come together," said Terry

To see the team grow and compete at a higher level each week motivates her, "I'm really excited, not only for myself to prove what I can do, but for everyone else too."

Terry has found plenty of success on the track during the spring, winning many times during the regular season for the 'Beeters Track and Field team. She has won multiple District 9C 1,600 Meter and 3,200 Meter races and earned All-State honors at the Class C State Meet in Great Falls.

So does her experience in the spring on the track or her 5K races, half-marathons and marathon ran during the summer prepare her more for the upcoming cross country season, "I think it's a little of both. I think with track I learned speed work and more of a competitive atmosphere that's a little different," said Terry. "Everyone's really close together in the races and you're seeing everyone; people are cheering and you know who your competition is and you see them weekly."

The summer races are much different, "The thing that benefits me with the road races is the distance, knowing that you can go that far and you're not gonna hurt yourself. Knowing that you can set a certain pace so there's no doubt in your mind that you can have a pace for a shorter distance."

What exactly was her summer schedule, "I did run two 5K's, but I also sandwiched them between a marathon and a half marathon." Running the shorter distances in the spring and the much longer distances in the summer begs the question? Has she timed herself at the three mile distance she will be competing at this fall, "I have not yet run the pace I'm going for but I have run at a more elevated pace, and I've been doing 5K's for a very long time."

What's her goal for her senior cross country season, where does she expect her mile splits to be, "I'd love to get in the six to six and a half minute range. I would really like to set my sights on the podium," said Terry. Pretty lofty goals, but she wants to set the bar high, " I want to make sure that cross country has a legacy."

Her goals extend to the rest of her team as well and the girls team has a chance to do very well in Missoula, "I would hope that we could place at state because I think everyone's coming along really nicely and I'm actually so excited with everyone's progress. I think everyone was a little skeptical of how this would go because no one really knew what cross country was. Everyone is catching on really fast and I think everyone is going to do so amazing this year. I'm so happy for them. Running is a lifetime sport. So finding the motivation and the grit to keep with it is definitely a valuable thing. You don't have to be a distance runner in track to enjoy running in the fall," concluded Terry

The 'Beeters will open the season at the Cut Bank Time Trials on Friday, September 2. They will then head to the Havre Invitational where they will run the Prairie Farms Golf Course on Saturday, September 10. Meets will follow in Glasgow (September 17), Centerville (September 24), Malta (October 8) and Harlem on Friday, October 14. The State Class C Cross Country Meet will take place in Missoula on Saturday, October 22.

Chinook senior Anna Terry may be competing in her first season of High School Cross Country but she is by no means new to the sport. Terry has run many 5k races, half marathons and this summer completed her first marathon. She hasn't just ran the races but has consistently finished at the top of her age group as well as the overall field.

Attempts to reach out to the Harlem Cross Country Coach were not answered. Should any information be presented to the Blaine County Journal we will certainly share that information with our readers.