Cross Country teams have strong showings at own invite

The Trojans cross country teams had two meets last week, hosting the New Prague Invitational on Tuesday, Oct. 4, and the Alexandria Lions Meet of Champions on Saturday, Oct. 8.

New Prague’s girls teams won their home invitational and finished ninth of 21 teams at Alexandria. The boys were second of 10 teams at home and were 17th of 21 teams at Alexandria.

New Prague girls race

The girls had a team score of 36, beating out 10 other teams over the 4,000-meter course. Belle Plaine was second with 79 points, followed by Norwood-Young America (103), Farmington (122), Jordan (141), Montgomery-Lonsdale (170), Sibley East (211), St. Peter (217), Cannon Falls (inc.), Mankato Loyola (inc.).

The Trojans’ seven runners all finished in the top 15, led by senior Katelyn Meger who was third out of 56 runners, and finished the course in 16 minutes, 7 seconds. Her teammates all finished within a minute of each other as Amanda Wagner was sixth (17:03), Annie Connelly seventh (17:08), Jenny Hendricks eighth (17:12), Ellie Stasney 12th (17:58), Charlie Herrmann 13th (18:00) and Natalie Rutt 15th (18:02).

For the girls’ junior varsity, New Prague again had a strong showing as five of their six runners finished in the top ten. They were Ali Becker, second (18:58), Alex Perkinson, third (19:01), Danielle Tikalsky, fourth (19:18), Hallie Tietz, fifth (19:26) and Veronica Kneeland, seventh (20:03). Emily Forberg finished with 23:36.

In the middle school race, New Prague had two top-10 finishers, Kelsey Wiebusch, seventh (9:02) and Abbey Wymer, eighth (9:04).

New Prague boys race

The Trojan boys completed the 5,000-meter course with 79 points, finishing behind the first place team from Farmington, which had a score of 65. Other teams were Norwood-Young America (95), Sibley East (98), Belle Plaine (103), Mankato Loyola (124), Jordan (165), Cannon Falls (223), St. Peter (229), Montgomery-Lonsdale (inc.).

Preston Tomlinson led the Trojans. The freshman finished fourth out of 64 runners with a time of 18:33. Just 12 seconds back was teammate Drew Revak, who finished fifth (18:45). They were followed by Todd Reed (19:31), Matt Perkinson (19:36), Mark Kramer (20:04), John Cilibrasi (21:02) and Nick Mahowald (21:54).

The junior varsity had three runners finish in the top 15. They were Allan Friedges, fifth (21:05), Nathan Carmouche, 12th (21:36) and Daniel Coons, 15th (21:45).

For the middle school top finishers were John Solheid, seventh (8:14), Ashton Hlavac, eighth (8:16), Zack Johnson, 10th (8:26) and Tate Murchison, 12th (8:32).

Alexandria girls race

The New Prague girls team finished far behind Section 2AA teams Prior Lake and Marshall, as the Trojans came in ninth out of 21 teams at the Meet of Champions held at Arrowwood Resort. The course was 4,000 meters.

Team results were: Roseville 63, Prior Lake 77, Stillwater 86, Marshall 110, Staples-Motley 117, Chaska 169, Mounds View 226, Brainerd 235, New Prague 247, Eastview 254, Winona 299, Fergus Falls 362, Little Falls 379, Alexandria 391, Cretin-Derham Hall 412, Bemidji 431, Red Wing 515, St. Louis Park 536.

Meger placed 10th out of 123 finishers to earn a trip to the awards stand, with a time of 15:39. Eighth graders Herrmann and Rutt ran personal bests.

Alexandria boys race

The Trojan boys were 17th out of 21 teams on the 5,000-meter course, ahead of Prior Lake for the first time in recent memory. There were seven ranked teams, including #1AA Willmar, #1A St. Cloud Cathedral and #3AA Stillwater. Willmar proved its No. 1 rating by winning the race.

Boys results were: Willmar 62, Stillwater 80, Eastview 99, Roseville 121, Mounds View 137, Benilde-St. Margaret’s 155, Chaska 193, St. Cloud Cathedral 195, Brainerd 266, Red Wing 325, Staples-Motley 329, Alexandria 338, Bemidji 363, Marshall 410, St. Louis Park 432, Cretin-Derham Hall 443, New Prague 455, Prior Lake 483, Fergus Falls 493, Windom 567, and Little Falls 612.

Individually Tomlinson was the top finisher for New Prague as he had a time of 17:53, coming in 65th out of 141 finishers.

Today (Thursday) will be the Missota Conference Meet at the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul. The top teams for the boys section are expected to be Northfield, Hutchinson and Red Wing. Coach Julie Berg says fourth through seventh places will be a tossup, with New Prague, Farmington, Prior Lake and Shakopee all hoping for a top-four finish.

For the girls, Prior Lake is the favorite, with New Prague and Northfield both hoping to make a challenge.

If we are going to challenge Prior Lake