All three Blaine County Cross Country teams were in action this week. Friday the 'Beeters were in Great Falls at the Anaconda Hills Golf Course for the Great Falls Invitational. Saturday the Harlem Wildcats and Hays/Lodge Pole Thunderbirds were in Glasgow for the Scottie Invitational.

The Chinook Sugarbeeters had a stellar performance in Great Falls at the Anaconda Hills Golf Course. With fields of more than 160 runners in both the boys and girls race competition was sure to be at its highest. In the girls race sophomore Neva Lowe led the 'Beeter effort with an outstanding run of 22:07.2 to finish second. Sophomore Emma Klingaman crossed the finish line in 25:27.9 while sophomore Kirby Hofeldt turned in a time of 27:36.3. Sophomore Bailey Billmayer rounded out the 'Beeter girls contingent.

In the boys race it was senior Corey Bilger leading the way for the 'Beeters. Bilger finished the race in 22:09.0. Junior Carson Nissen followed with a time of 22:54.9. Sophomore RJ Engstrom completed the course in 23:33.1 and sophomore Ezekiel Sanders turned in a time of 23:46.3. The rest of the 'Beeter contingent included freshman Gus Buck, freshman Evan Hofeldt, freshman Kenneth Gruszie, junior Kalled Jaha and junior Lance Pitkanen.

'Beeter Head Coach Kendall Harwood was thrilled with his team's effort, "The Anaconda Hills meet was a great challenge for the 'Beeters. Neva ran a tough race coming in second. Her time beat our last year's star (Anna Terry) by one second. Anna won the race last year. Neva had a very fast first mile at 6:30. She kept the first place runner in her sights the whole race. Neva keeps looking stronger every race and I know we will see her improve even more in the next two meets leading up to state in Kalispell."

Harwood added, "On the boy's side we had some gutsy performances. Corey Bilger took two and a half minutes off of his time from last year. He reclaimed the number one runner spot for the 'Beeters with his domination of the hills. This course is said to rank among the top 10 toughest xc courses in the nation. The athletes did great and I feel like they will be ready to drop more time at Malta next Saturday."

Saturday at the Glasgow Invitational at Fort Peck the Wildcat and Thunderbird teams were in action. Freshman Branlin Foote turned in an exceptional time of 16:35.07 to finish third in the boys race. Wildcat freshman Isaac Cuts the Rope followed with a time of 19:03.31 while Gregory Gardipee crossed the finish line in 20:15.72. The remaining Wildcat runners included sophomore Delane Lamere, freshman Lathan Blackwolf and seniors Moses Lawrence and Kelbi Bigby. The Thunderbirds were represented by sophomore Ethan Russell.

Mari Anne Skoyen File

In the girls race it was Harlem senior Desiree Smith with a time of 27:01.76 and Hays/Lodge Pole freshman Hadley Not Afraid with a time of 27:16.01.