Cross country running is not for the faint of heart; it is for the strong of heart.

Being as they are from the mountainside community of Thompson Falls, coach Sarah Naegeli and her running Blue Hawks are looking forward to the challenge of the Flathead Lake Monster Triad in Bigfork Saturday. The Bigfork coach told Naegeli that some hills on the course will "build memories" for the competitors.

Naegeli knows her Hawks will not be daunted by a few hills, even if the Bigfork coach thinks so.

"Thompson Falls runners are familiar with hills," she said. "We think we should do all right with that and are looking forward to this race."

Minus a few harriers due to the Sanders County 4-H show at the fairgrounds in Plains Saturday, the majority of the team competed in the season-opening Eureka Invitational Saturday.

Justin Morgan highlighted Thompson Falls efforts on the day with a strong second place finish in the boys race (in a lifetime best 5K time of 17:08.27), Cael Thilmony placed 16th at 20:35.20 and Noxon's Andy Koonce (running with the Hawks) was 21st in 22:33.87.

Ellie Baxter paced the Lady Hawks, winning fourth in 24:11.81, Megan Baxter (26:30.49) was 10th, Roni Hanks (28:50.74) 12th and Faith Palmer (30:15.90) was 14th.

Morgan, who earned All-State B honors with a top 15 finish at the State B meet last fall, showed that he means business this season. "Justin had an outstanding breakthrough that I knew was coming. He and the Eureka boys (who won the State B team title last year) were pushing each other the entire course," Naegeli said, "and Justin had a PR (personal record) by almost a minute. He's put in the miles this summer and is ready to race."

Eureka's Isaac Reynolds barely held off Morgan for first place, clocking 17:06.96 to win.

Courtesy Photo

WORKING TOWARDS the finish line, Andy Koonce is the only Noxon student running for Thompson Falls cross country this season.

Naegeli thought all her runners competed well in Eureka considering the conditions. "It was hot, hot, HOT!" she said. "The kids stepped up and really competed well in the heat."

In the girls middle school race, six young Lady Hawks competed. Aubrey Baxter led the way by winning fourth in 11:04.31, followed by Solvieg Nygaard (10th in 12:51.24), Kylee Huff (11th, 13:25.25), Claire Lakko (13th, 13:36.62), Sophia LaFriniere (17th, 17:55.58) and Summer Olmos (18th, 22:47.81).

The running Neesvigs, sisters senior Josey, freshman Hattie and sixth grader Marley, were showing animals at the fairgrounds Saturday and missed the Eureka Invite.