CC runners compete at Hutchinson
New Prague's boys and girls cross country teams traveled to Hutchinson Thursday, Sept. 14, for the Hutchinson Invitational.
The Trojans next meet is Thursday, Sept. 21, at Prior Lake, followed by a meet at Montgomery-Lonsdale September 28.
Willmar sweeps boys race
New Prague had the chance to witness Willmar, the defending state champion, post a perfect score. The Cardinal runners swept the first five places to score 15 points. Willmar is the top-ranked team in the state this year and is ranked No. 7 in the nation.
The host Tigers finished a distant second to Willmar, with 93 points. They were followed by Buffalo (104), Mankato West (126), Fairmont (144), Shakopee (163), Marshall (177), Mankato East (208), New Prague (210), Sartell (223), Anoka (257) and Dassel-Cokato (330).
Kaafi Adeys of Willmar was the medallist for the meet, finishing the 5,000-meter course in 16 minutes, 41 seconds. The Trojans' Preston Tomlinson made it to the awards stand by finishing 15th, in a time of 17:50.
New Prague runners posted good times. Drew Revak was 24th (18:14). Other times were Matt Perkinson (19:20), Allen Friedges (19:59), Marty Herrmann (19:59), and John Solheid (20:25).
Top JV runners for New Prague were Andy O'Neill (20:21), Neal Lambrecht (20:30) and Ashton Hlavac (21:24).
In the middle school meet, Zack Johnson was the top Trojan runner (13:32), with Alex Hendricks close behind (13:34). Kyle Strand was next in 14:06, followed by Adam Revak (14:46) and Nick Bohlke (14:47).
Girls place 8th
The girls varsity placed 8th of 12 teams. Highlights included Amanda Wagner placing in the top 20 and a solid effort from the Tikalsky cousins, Danielle and Molly, in their first year on varsity. The team was competing against some state-ranked competition.
Middle schoolers Anna Rynda and Abby Wymer finished 1-2, leading the middle school team to a runner-up finish.
Marshall won the meet, with 36 points, well ahead of second place Mankato East (107),. The rest of the field included Fairmont (126), Sartell (127), Shakopee (129), Mankato West (153), Willmar (164), Buffalo (166), New Prague (183), Anoka (215), Hutchinson (230) and Dassel-Cokato (386).
Brooke Wyffles of Marshall was the medallist, finishing the 4,000-meter course in 14:42.
Top Trojan runner was Wagner, 17th in 16:20. Annie Connelly was next for New Prague, finishing 29th in 16:41, with Jenny Hendricks right behind in 30th, at 16:42. Other Trojan runners were Charlie Herrmann (17:25), Danielle Tikalsky (17:35), Veronica Kneeland (17:45) and Molly Tikalsky (18:07).
Kelsey Wiebusch led the Trojan JV with a time of 18:27, followed by Hallie Tietz in 18:48 and Marissa Schoenecker (20:56).
The middle school team won the meet with 59 points. Rynda placed first in the 3,200-meter course in 14:39, followed by Wymer (14:41) in second. Annie Dittberner was eighth (15:22), followed by Emily Rezac, 22nd, in 16:22, and Lauren Carr 26th (16:36). Also finishing strong were Maria Friedges, 28th, Nikki Russell, 29th and Rochelle Widmer, 30th.