PREP CROSS COUNTRY: Kent leads Sandpoint to third place finish at Libby Invitational

by MAX OSWALD
Sports Reporter | August 30, 2024 5:15 PM

LIBBY, Mont. — Junior Paul Kent finished second out of 94 runners with a 5,000-meter time of 15 minutes and 50 seconds, a new 38-second personal best and the fifth fastest time in Sandpoint history, and the Bulldogs claimed third place out of 14 teams at the Libby Invitational held Friday at the Cabinet View Golf Club.

Kent was only behind Flathead High senior Robbie Nuila, who won the meet in 15 minutes and 40 seconds. Sandpoint sophomore Jack Lovin finished 14th in 16 minutes and 53 seconds, a new personal best by 1 minute and 9 seconds. Freshman Kai Budensiek was the top freshman in the race and 17th for Sandpoint in 16 minutes and 56 seconds. Fellow freshman Wyatt Lemon was the second freshman to finish, placing 22nd in 17 minutes and 12 seconds. Trace Evans finished 40th for the Bulldogs in 18 minutes even, a new personal best by roughly for 1 minute for the sophomore.

Sandpoint’s total score was 70 points, a short margin behind Glacier and Flathead.

Priest River High senior Brayden Lamanna was sixth in 16 minutes and 15 seconds, a new personal best by approximately 40 seconds. Clark Fork High junior represented the Wampus Cats with a 50th place finish, clocking a time of 18 minutes and 37 seconds.

For the girls, Sandpoint High sophomore Elizabeth Storms was the top Lady Bulldog, finishing 27th out of 78 runners with a time of 21 minutes and 58 seconds. Sophomore Sienna Todd-Murray finished 32nd in 22 minutes and 21 seconds, freshman Katelyn Duke 35th in 22 minutes and 31 seconds, and junior Hannah Ricks 38th in 22 minutes and 33 seconds. Freshman Delany Barron rounded out the Bulldogs’ top five, finishing 45th in 22 minutes and 51 seconds.

The Lady Bulldogs finished sixth out of 10 scoring teams, edging out Lakeland and Bonners Ferry on the day.

Sandpoint returns to action Saturday, Sept. 7 at the Farragut Invitational hosted by Timberlake High.

BOYS

TEAM SCORES — 1, Flathead 59; 2, Glacier 65; 3, Sandpoint 86; 4, Lakeland 154; 5, Columbia Falls 168; 6, Timberlake 176; 7, Lewiston 184; 8, Florence-Carlton 194; 9, Post Falls 198; 10, Browning 223; 11, Libby 232; 12, Bigfork 256; 13, Lincoln County 351; 14, Bonners Ferry 375.

INDIVIDUALS (Top 20) — 1, Robbie Nuila, Flathead, 15:40.25; 2, Paul Kent, Sandpoint, 15:50.46; 3, Kasen Kastner, Flathead, 15:53.91; 4, Caleb Royce, Timberlake, 16:01.78; 5, Owen Thiel, Glacier, 16:12.21; 6, Brayden Lamanna, Priest River Lamanna, 16:15.92; 7, Austin Averette, Post Falls, 16:28.95; 8, River Racine, Browning, 16:43.86; 9, Cody Watson, Libby, 16:46.18; 10, Lucas Clements, Lewiston, 16:47.03; 11, Simon Douglas, Whitefish, 16:47.64; 12, Gabe Ackerly, Glacier, 16:47.91; 13, CJ Pijanowski, Florence-Carlton, 16:50.95; 14, Jack Lovin, Sandpoint, 16:53.27; 15, River Blazejewski, Columbia Falls, 16:54.63; 16, Jude Sparkman, Glacier, 16:55.45; 17, Kai Budensiek, Sandpoint, 16:56.51; 18, Brodyn DeShaw, Flathead, 16:56.56; 19, Jack Syverson, Glacier, 16:59.35; 20, Jacob Johnson, Flathead, 17:01.65.

GIRLS

TEAM SCORES — 1, Glacier 56; 2, Timberlake 59; 3, Post Falls 59; 4, Columbia Falls 94; 5, Browning 147; 6, Sandpoint 157; 7, Bonners Ferry 185; 8, Whitefish 203; 9, Lakeland 208; 10, Libby 224.

INDIVIDUALS (Top 20) — 1, Kaylynn Misner, Post Falls, 18:31.13; 2, Lauren Bissen, Glacier, 18:48.40; 3, Josie Wilson, Flathead, 18:56.71; 4, Vanessa McLachlan, Timberlake, 19:56.31; 5, Talia Bonville, Post Falls, 20:23.96; 6, Mya Badger, Columbia Falls, 20:39.87; 7, Malia Miller, Timberlake, 20:50.61; 8, Addisyn Storm, Lewiston, 20:51.77; 9, Angelique Averette, Post Falls, 20:55.18; 10, Lola Eggleston, Timberlake, 21:00.08.; 11, Marissa Schaeffer, Columbia Falls, 21:00.64; 12, Peyton Eaglefeathers, Browning, 21:04.91; 13., Dacia Benkleman, Glacier, 21:06.00; 14, Anna Tretter, Glacier, 21:08.68; 15, Miel Newton, Glacier, 21:09.35; 16, Cora Hannan, Columbia Falls, 21:11.60; 17, Emery Eash, Flathead, 21:15.67; 18, Emily Wright, Timberlake, 21:15.69; 19, Shaia Webber, Browning, 21:16.74; 20, Capri Farmer, Libby, 21:17.22.