Harlem runners shine

Harlem High School has a new state champion.

Harlem senior Brad Cichosz captured the 2019 Class B Boys State Cross Country Championship Saturday afternoon in chilly Great Falls.

At the tough Eagle Falls Golf Course, which had overnight snow, and featured cold temperatures Saturday, Cichosz crossed the finish line in the Class B boys race in 17:08.7, which was nearly four seconds ahead of Glasgow's Wilson Overby, who placed second. Cichosz' finish helped the Wildcats to a ninth-place finish at the state meet.

Cichosz is the second Hi-Line runner in the past three years to win a cross country state title, joining Hays-Lodge Pole's Isaiah Runs Above, who won the 2017 Class C state boys championship.

And, he wasn't the only Harlem runner to finish with success.

In the Class B girls race Saturday, Harlem senior L'Tia Lawrence finished in 19:47.04 for third place, earning her Class B All-State honors for the third straight cross country season.

Montana State Cross Country Championships

Class B

Boys

Individual

1, Brad Cichosz, Harlem, 17:08.7; 2, Wilson Overby, Glasgow, 17:12.24; 3, Isaac Reynolds, Eureka, 17:21.03; 4, Wyatt Barney, Manhattan, 17:30.74; 5, Zander Ackerman, Wolf Point, 17:35.96; 6, Kevin Graves, Huntley Project, 17:39.58; 7, Chaidh Lochridge, Eureka, 17:45.21; 8, Carl Zabrocki, Glasgow, 17:54.52; 9, Tegan Medicine Bull, St. Labre, 17:55.97; 10, Aidan Thompson, Deer Lodge, 17:56.54; 11, Michael Tenney, Manhattan, 17:57.65; 12, Gerrit Punt, St. Labre, 17:57.93; 13, Justin Morgan, Thompson Falls, 18:03.83; 14, Alex Lowe, Eureka, 19:06.43; 15, Ty Henry Steele, Townsend, 18:08.01.

Girls

Individuals

1. Hayley Burns, Colstrip, 19:29.50; 2. Emma Stolte, Townsend, 19:44.52; 3. L'Tia Lawrence, Harlem, 19:47.04; 4. Kelsey Plymale, Columbus, 19:49.98; 5. Natalie Lile, Huntley Project, 19:51.96; 6. Natalie Wood, Big Timber, 19:53.89; 7. Jodi Cameron, Manhattan, 20:01.45; 8. Hallie Hemenway, Manhattan, 20:01.63; 9. Destynee Two Moons, St Labre Catholic, 20:18.19; 10. Brayli Reimer, Red Lodge, 20:34.79; 11. Mckenna Shuck, Red Lodge, 20:46.62; 12. Bailey Taves, Townsend, 20:46.77; 13. Justene Santi, Townsend, 20:47.88; 14. Sarah Christensen, Townsend, 20:50.75; 15. Iris McKean, Glasgow, 20:57.51.