Hawk harriers run on to State

Consider 2020 the year of socially distant distance running, and it will all come to an end at the Montana All-Class Cross Country Meet at Rebecca Farms in Kalispell Friday.

Although the race format was not certain at press time, the Class B girls will run at 2 p.m., followed bu the Class B boys at 3.

Already off for two weeks and just out of quarantine due to a team member testing positive for COVID-19, coach Sarah Naegeli says her Hawks have been diligent about continuing to run in spite of the enforced layoff.

Naegeli said her running charges have been hard at it in spite of the inclement weather that visited the area last week in particular.

"We had boys out doing speed workouts in a hailstorm last week," she said. "They said this could happen in the race, so they ran in it just in case it happens in Kalispell."

And they did it all while maintaining proper social distance from each other while distance running.

Naegeli said the team member who tested positive has recovered and that her boys and girls teams will be at full strength for State. She expects both to be able to finish in the top 10 in team scoring. Justin Morgan, the No. 2 ranked B boy runner in the field, and Lady Hawk Josey Neesvig look to be the Hawks' best bets for All-State B honors.

Morgan in fact won All-State B recognition last fall with a fine effort in the 2019 State B meet.

Whatever happens in Kalispell, Naegeli is very grateful for her team and the resilient attitude they have run with all season.

"I've got to give it to these kids, they have stuck with it through a very strange season," she said. "They were handed a bad situation this year, and have been doing their very best to get through it. We look forward to a happy ending to the season in Kalispell."