Cross country hits the ground running
<p>Russell Kujala leads the Plains Cross Country team during one of last week's practices.</p>
PLAINS – As the sun slowly set in the western portion of the sky, members of the Plains Cross Country team laced up their running shoes and prepared for their evening workout.
Members of the Plains Horsemen and Trotters cross country teams assembled at the Sanders County Fairgrounds on Thursday Aug. 21, at 7 p.m. before deciding on a route, which would take them down River Road West.
Plains Cross Country Head Coach Tony Banovich was on hand to partake in the run and help his team prepare for the upcoming fall running season.
According to Banovich, it looks like the team will field 11 or 12 runners at the start of the fall sports season.
This year’s team is comparable in size to past running squads.
Though the team started organized practices on Aug. 15, Banovich said many athletes on the team have been running during the summer on their own accord to get ready for competition.
Both the Trotters and Horsemen will start their seasons with a time trial on Friday Aug. 29.
The time trial will begin at the Fairgrounds and will be in the midst of the Sanders County Fair.
The Thompson Falls cross country team will also partake in the time trial and the cross country squad from Arlee may potentially take part as well.
The Plains head coach is looking forward to the start of a new season and he believes his team is in a great position to compete.
Banovich noted the team was in great shape and adequately conditioned for the season.
“I think we are a little ahead of where we were last year at this point,” Banovich said.
The Plains Horsemen have four boys, one athlete below the state requirement to achieve a team score at meets held throughout the season.
Nonetheless, the boys of Plains will still be able to compete individually at fall meets.
They will be led by returning senior Russell Kujala who is coming off a successful cross country season last year and is looking to replicate his previous success once more, after finishing fourth at the state meet last year.
The Trotters are well above the five individual minimum and will be looking to build off individual and team successes the group experienced during last fall’s meets.
Senior Demi Horton, who has been an all-state athlete in cross country for two years in a row, is looking for another big year on the courses of western Montana.
Kimberly Earhart has also been an all-state athlete for two consecutive fall seasons and is looking to continue to build on her strong performances.
The Trotters team placed third at the 2013 state meet and will look to once again be in the running during the home stretch of the fall meet schedule.
“Hopefully we can see that kind of performance again,” Banovich said.
There was no shortage of enthusiasm during the team’s weekday practice last week and the squad’s athletes seem physically and mentally prepared for their arduous distance sport.