Hawk harriers enjoying running season

For Thompson Falls cross country runners and their fans, this is the most wonderful time of the year.

Running into the heart of their 2019 schedule, the Thompson Falls Blue Hawk harriers have the opportunity to compete in two of the better races of any season this week – the Rebecca Farms Invitational in Kalispell Saturday and the Thompson Falls Invitational at River's Bend golf course Tuesday. The Falls Invite is scheduled to begin running at 2 p.m. Sept. 17.

The Hawks kept busy last week by running in the Big Sky Coaches Invitational in Missoula Thursday and in the Mission Invitational Tuesday. The Big Sky race, involving many of the Class AA, A and B schools from around western Montana, featured separate competitions for freshmen, sophomore-juniors and seniors.

"We have been busy, busy, busy," Blue Hawk coach Sarah Naegeli said, "and we will be busy again this week. We will end up having a total of five meets in the next three weeks."

The Hawk's busy-ness led them feet first into Missoula last week.

Proving busy feet are the key to success in cross country racing, the Hawks' leading man Justin Morgan and leading lady Josey Neesvig both finished a respectable ninth place in the boys' and girls' sophomore-junior races to pace the Hawks in the Big Sky Coaches Invite.

Morgan flew through the course in a career-best time of 18:25, while Neesvig conquered the course in 21:18.

"That was a break through race for Justin, a lifetime best," Naegeli said. "And it was good to have Josey back for her first race. Those two have really been working hard, putting in the miles, and that hard work is paying off."

Also in the boys' sophomore-junior race, Jack Green finished 30th in 20:05, Marc Boyd 65th in 24:13, followed by Hunter Little (27:40) and Conner Maloney (27:50).

Isaac Reed (32:55) ran in the freshman race for the Hawk boys.

One of the most promising harriers on the Lady Hawk running roster, Sierra Hanks ran down a time of 24:39 to place 29th among sophomore-junior girls, Megan Baxter clocked out in 27:06, Sarah Clements 27:21 and Roni Hanks 28:35.

In the girls' senior race Shaylynda Walker timed out in 27:10.18 for 23rd place, Reagan Hanks reached the finish line in 31:51 and Amy Risser in 37:15.

Another promising Lady Hawk, freshman Ellie Baxter did not finish the race in Missoula and was also set to sit out the Mission meet Tuesday as well with a balky knee.

Results from the Mission run were not available at press time.

Naegeli looks forward to the next few weeks.

"The Rebecca Farms meet is always a fun one," she said, "and we always like hosting our meet at River's Bend. Courses with some shade are preferable this time of year, so our run is always a pretty nice place to compete."

The Thompson Falls Invitational will serve as a preview of sorts for the Western B-C divisional meet Oct. 16, which will also be held at River's Bend.