Rarefied heir: Long-distance running baton has been passed to Whitefish's Drew Coco
By NICK LOCKRIDGE of the Missoulian

Montana's track and field season came and went last spring without Drew Coco even knowing he'd been passed a baton.

The Whitefish senior and favorite in the Class A boys' race at Saturday's all-class state cross country meet in Missoula hopes to leave his mark on running's long distance landscape, especially after some close calls throughout his high school career.

Coco is the top returning placer from last year's state meet. He finished fifth behind a talented group of seniors, who've since moved on. Coco has clocked the fastest time in the state this fall - regardless of classification - and it's on the same course as this weekend's meet no less. In essence, it's his show on Saturday.

“I don't know what the state tournament holds for me,” Coco said. “I know there's always the guy, whether it's (Laurel's) Patrick Casey or (Polson's) Logan Torgison, or whoever, you'd see them in the race, lock eyes with them, and they'd pull you through. Now it's a stopwatch. The watch is your friend out there.”