Girls race to third at St. Olaf, boys 13th

New Prague's boys and girls cross country teams competed at the St. Olaf Invitational Friday, with the girls placing a strong third in the 13-team field. The boys were 13th of 14 teams.

Girls meet

It was hot and humid, with the temperature at 84 degrees. The Trojans were facing some stiff competition, with Owatonna, ranked No. 9 in the state, finishing first in a combined 59 minutes, 10 seconds. Aberdeen, SD, was second in 1:00:21, and the Trojans were close behind at 1:00:41. Other teams competing were Woodbury (1:01:27), Park (1:02:20), Red Wing (1:02:45), Totino Grace (1:03:16), Rochester Lourdes (1:04:09), Mankato West (1:04:40), Faribault (1:05:38), Austin (1:08:42), Richfield (1:18:01) and Trinity (inc.).

Despite the heat, most runners improved their times from the same meet last year. New Prague, led by Ellie Stasney, followed its strategy of starting conservatively in the middle of the pack. Over the last mile they pushed ahead.

New Prague was buoyed by the return of Katelyn Meger, who missed all of last season due to illness.

Trojan individual results were:

Stasney: 11:52; Meger, 11:55; Megan Wagner, 12:08; Jenny Hendricks, 12:09; Annie Connelly, 12:37; Amanda Wagner, 12:40. Other runners were Veronica Kneeland, 13:18; Holly Oak, 13:53, Britty Smith, 14:10, Alex Perkinson, 14:25 and Danielle Kes, 15:15.

Boys meet

For the boys, eighth grader Drew Revak and junior Todd Reed led the way. Times were Revak, 15:14; Reed, 15:15; Brad Schmitz, 15:24; Preston Tomlinson, 15:29; Steven Solheid, 16:31; Nick Mahowald, 16:51; Matt Revak, 16:56; Aaron Becker, 16:57; Carl Turner, 17:41; Steven Zweber, 17:43; Ty Murchison, 18:11; Adam Fogarty, 21:26; and Jamie Kollasch, 23:10

Mankato West won the meet, followed by Roseville, Owatonna, Faribault and Rochester Lourdes in the top five. The next finishers were Aberdeen, Red Wing, Richfield, Park Austin, Woodbury, Totino Grace, New Prague and Trinity.

Next meets

The next meet for the Trojans is the Montgomery-Lonsdale Redbird Invitational Thursday, Sept. 9 at the Montgomery Golf Club. With 33 teams, the meet is considered the largest cross country meet in southern Minnesota. Races start at 4 p.m.

On Tuesday, Sept. 16, the team travels to Hutchinson.