Scottie Time Travelers Speed Up

The Glasgow Scotties XC runners are cutting their times with passion.

Coach K loves it.

“We've just had a really good practice,” coach Rod Karst told The Courier on Tuesday. “They're practicing with as much intensity as I've had with a team.”

At the Billings Invitational last Friday, six of eight Scottie boys ran faster over the 3 miles than they did at the Poplar invite the week earlier. Gabe Hallock was the big time cruncher, dropping 65 seconds from 19:00 to 17:55 to clock fastest for GHS.

Morgan Guttenberg improved most among girls, dropping from 27:35 to 25:50 – a mighty 1 minute and 45 seconds – to seven teammates ranked ahead of her.

“It went good,” Karst said of the Billings meet. “Our placing wasn't where we wanted, but most of them cut times – and that's what we're after.”

Not only that, the four-time defending state champ girls got back Josie Braaten, one of their top guns. Bouncing back from breathing and foot setbacks, Braaten paced the girls with a time of 20:16.

Next up: the Malta invite on Saturday, Sept. 13.

“We're looking to cut more times,” Karst said.

Team training techniques, more advanced than some runners followed during the summer, are helping the cause, Karst said.

Target times of 22:00 or lower are the objective for the girls. At Billings, Braaten and Amanda Wolff (20:40) were already there. Knocking on the door were Alex Simenson (22:13), Brinlie Nielsen (22:37), Kerry Hoffman (23:08) and Mary Fewer (23:23).

For the boys, the target time is 18 minutes or better.

“We've got one there, one is close and the rest are closing the gap,” Karst said.

Hallock has arrived, at least for a week. Within 2 minutes of 18:00 were Walker Allen (18:06), Ethan Jamba (19:08), Braden Meland (19:09), Casey Seyfert (19:16) and Chase Hughes (20:00).

The long-range goal is another supercharged Scottie showing at State.

Can the girls five-peat?

“Oh, yeah,” Karst said with a smile.

And the boys? He said the goal is Top 3 at State, up there with Manhattan and Red Lodge.

Following are results from Billings, a meet featuring teams from larger schools in Montana and Wyoming. The Glasgow girls placed 11th and boys 18th.

Billings Invitational

Girls

Team scores – Billings Senior 72, Gillette (Wyo.) 79, Casper (Wyo.) Natrona 125, Casper (Wyo.) Kelly Walsh 152, Billings West 161, Cody (Wyo.) 193, Billings Skyview 208, Hardin 249, Worland (Wyo.) 258, Sheridan (Wyo.) 269, Glasgow 301, Powell (Wyo.) 309, Miles City 344, Billings Central 360, Red Lodge 360, Lewistown 365, Roundup 380, Colstrip 483.

Glasgow (301) – Josie Braaten, 26, 20:16.55; Amanda Wolff, 34, 20:40.89; Alex Simensen, 72, 22:13.02; Brinlie Nielsen, 79, 22:37.06; Kerry Hoffman, 90, 23:08.72; Mary Fewer, 94, 23:23.04; Faith Sallee, 115, 25:21.91; Morgan Guttenberg, JV, 25:50; Andrea Hansen, JV, 36:18.

Top 10 – Christina Aragon, Senior, 17:09.56; Amanda Nelson, Skyview, 17:44.88; Sydney Wendt, Gil, 17:50.54; Tabitha Simmons, Gil, 18:32.54; Keegan Day, Skyview, 18:42.15; Kelliana Montanez, Wor, 19:01.06; Molly Olsen, Natr, 19:02.23; Maggie Chapin, Buf, 19:07.12; Mishayla Waltari, Cod, 19:12.54; Xiomara Robinson, Sher, 19:12.55.

Boys

Team Scores – Billings Senior 79, Casper (Wyo.) Natrona 105, Gillette (Wyo.) 125, Casper (Wyo.) Kelly Walsh 140, Billings West 177, Sheridan (Wyo.) 180, Laurel 194, Red Lodge 213, Cody (Wyo.) 231, Billings Skyview 238, Hardin 263, Buffalo (Wyo.) 328, Miles City 369, Colstrip 370, Lewistown 392, Worland (Wyo.) 420, Lame Deer 444, Glasgow 470, Billings Central 472, Powell (Wyo.) 532, Sidney 571, Lodge Grass 599.

Glasgow (470) – Gabe Hallock, 68, 17:55.33; Walker Allen, 75, 18:06.50; Ethan Jamba, 107, 19:08.94; Braden Meland, 108, 19:09.42; Kasey Seyfert, 112, 19:16.84; Chase Hughes, 125, 20:00.33; Logan Gunderson, 140, 21:50.29; Tanner Overby JV, 23:56; Jacob Stevens, JV, 38:19.

Top 10 – Hunter Davila, KW, 15:11.45; Brody Smith, Cod, 15:17.03; Matthew Scarlett, Buf, 15:43.32; Ty Mogan, Laurel, 15:44.38; Tyus Mendoza, Cols, 15:55.51; Jesse Allen, Natr, 15:56.03; Dylan Johnson, Senior, 16;07.03; Justin Mehrer, Gil, 16:09.77; Taylor Bruso, Sher, 16:16.14; Anthony Overcast, Senior, 16:17.08.