Talented Cross Country team start 2023 campaign Saturday

With a mix of talented returning runners and newcomers, it should be another strong season for the Three Forks High School Cross Country team.

With Wolves opening the 2023 campaign on Saturday, August 26, at the Jefferson Invite in Boulder, longtime Head Coach Tara Forsberg is excited about the start of the season.

Forsberg said the girls’ team should be solid this season, with five freshmen to join an experienced group of upperclassmen. Five of the six Lady Wolves who helped lead the team to a tenth-place finish at last year’s state meet were underclassmen, including Bella Jones, Ari Judd, Grace Kluin, Devynn Judd, and Karin Williams.

"The season is early, so we are working on getting a little confidence built up in those younger girls. I saw them quite a bit this summer, which is a big component in having a decent season," Forsberg said.

On the boy's side, Three Forks will return two top-20 finishers from last year's state runner-up team.

Bryon Fanning returns for his senior season after finishing ninth at state in 2022. Cass Violett also returns after finishing 20th at the season-ending meet. Forsberg added newcomer Michah Gather has also been doing well. Christopher Harmon and Kiai Ingraham competed as underclassmen at the 2022 state meet.

"The boys' team is coming together. It is certainly not like last year, but I think we could get there. I am excited to see what both teams do this year," Forsberg said.

Looking towards this week's action, Forsberg said Boulder is a great season opener.

"We love the teams that show up, and it gets those first race jitters out of the way. We had many runners miss a few days of the first practices, so Boulder will be different than what I foresee my varsity teams as in upcoming meets," Forsberg said.