Girls 7th at Section CC meet

The New Prague Trojan girls cross country team finished its season with an outstanding performance at the Section 2AA Championships at Gale Woods Farm Park in Minnetrista Thursday, Oct. 26.

New Prague finished seventh of 16 teams at the meet, with the team’s top five runners placing in a pack within 28 seconds of each other.

Bethany Vasecka led the Trojans, placing 21st in 20 minutes, 42 seconds. Sydney Siegle was next for the Trojans, placing 39th in 20:51. They were followed by Kate Chromy (41st, 20:53), Iris McCarthey (47th, 21:07) and Morgan Brandt (50th, 21:10). Other Trojan runners were Elsie Hatlevig (78th, 22:16) and Anna Holden (108th, 24:09).

“Bethany ran her season best on a day we needed to perform well as a team,” Coach Shawn Brandt said. “She provided that spark. Kate Chromy also ran her season-best time and finished with a strong final 400 meters, helping us secure our team goal.”

Brandt explained that a year ago, the team set a goal to place eighth or higher, after finishing 10th in 2016.

“We were pleased to find ourselves ranked eighth going into the meet, and we knew it would not be easy to move up.”

“I am incredibly proud of the girls on this team and their accomplishments,” Brandt said. “They are all gifted athletes, but they are not satisfied with being ‘pretty good’ runners. They train hard, push each other, encourage everyone on the team, and promote a positive team culture.”

Brandt said it’s exciting to know that the entire team will return for next season, as the Trojans ran five juniors and two sophomores.

Heidi Schmitz of Willmar was medallist for the meet, running the 5K course in 18 minutes, 40 seconds, easily outdistancing Waconia’s Kaleesa Houstin, who was second in 19:03.

Willmar won the meet with...

To see more on this story pick up the November 2, 2017 print edition of The New Prague Times.