Lions XC Run Toward Success
By: AJ Truman and Bryn Van Orden
Sept. 27, 2023
The Lions Cross Country is off to a running start as the boys are ranked in the top 16 of Class B schools and are improving every week. The girls are ranked 24th in their respective class. There are 40 Cross Country teams in Montana Class B, which results in a little more competition.
The Boys leader senior Michael Pitman has logged the fastest time for them this year at 17:18.4 ranking him at 13th in the individual rankings, also putting him on pace to receive an All-State Award (Top 15) at the end of the season. The Girls fastest runner is senior Monroe Tornow running her fastest time of the year with 24:23.0.
The Lions last meet was Sept. 26th at the Whitefish Lake Golf Country Club. The Girls came in eighth place following four Class A schools and two Class AA schools. The only B school in front of them was Cut Bank (athletic.net). The Boys finished in ninth, however; were the first Class B team. Pitman was the first Boy for the Lions to finish completing the race in 17:18.32 giving him a 14th overall finish. Tornow was the first Lady Lion in with a time of 24:22.98.
Pitman, sophomores Colin Hickman, River Traina, Ben Hughes, and freshman Brian Best round off the boys top five. “I think this team is really good and improving going into divisionals and will be good for the next few years.” Pitman stated. Pitman leads the team with 2900 career miles.
Tornow, senior Arnica Kalwara, and sophomores Kricket Bridges, Sarah Espinoza, and Beatriz Prieto cap off the women's side. Seniors Tornow, Kalwara, and Hayden Lemer have 2800 combined career miles running in the XC program.
The top five runners' places count for the team score as the number six and seven runners are used for tie breakers.
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