Two LoW/RR runners advance to state

Section 8A Cross Country Meet
Hawley Golf and Country Club, Hawley

*Personal Record (-minutes:seconds faster)
Girls Varsity (4000 meters)
Madie Heinrich, 18th, 18:10
Shantelle Davidson, 25th, 18:23
Jessie Buegler, 39th, 19:05
Brenley Anderson, 61st, 20:51
Jennie Buegler, 62nd, 20:53
Lacy Holen, 64th, 21:39
Karlie Eaton, 22:11, 70th
Varsity Girls Team Results
Crosby-Ironton, 32
Lake Park-Audubon, 67
East Grand Forks, 69
Deer River-Northland, 137
Menagha-Sebeka, 140
Pequot Lakes, 141
Lake of the Woods - Rainy River, 158
Warroad, 189
Trek North, 278
Boys Varsity Race (5000 meters)
Andrew Friesen, 7th, 17:38
Tyler Ketchum, 8th, 17:39 * (-16 sec)
Dylan Davis, 23rd, 18:34
Jay Neilson, 34th, 18:57
Vincent Scott, 35th, 19:03
Joe Cooper, 44th, 19:18
Chris Heinrich, 46th, 19:37
Varsity Boys Team Results
Warroad, 49
Crosby-Ironton, 77
Lake of the Woods - Rainy
River, 107
Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton, 132
Deer River-Northland, 142
Roseau, 177
Pequot Lakes, 186
Frazee, 192
Park Rapids, 265
Hawley/Ulen-Hitterdal, 271
East Grand Forks, 290
Pine River-Backus, 333
Pake Park-Audubon, 334
Menahga-Sebeka, 365
Trek North, 403
Coach’s Sariina Kalli’s Comments/Highlights
BOYS
The Lake of the Woods boys started the season as unknown underdogs, and ended it by missing a trip to the State Meet by only one place. The boys placed 3rd in a field of 15 teams when the top two teams and top 10 individuals move on to State in Northfield Nov. 6.
Freshman Andrew Friesen and junior Tyler Ketchum pushed each other to excellent finishes on the hilly Hawley course, placing 7th and 8th respectively. Friesen clocked in at 17:38, while Ketchum pulled out the team’s only personal record, with a 17:39 - a 16-second best. Both runners will compete at State next weekend. It’s the first time in Lake of the Woods history that two boys have qualified for the Minnesota State Cross Country Meet.
Unfortunately, this wasn’t the year for the entire team to make the road trip. Sophomore Dylan Davis was 23rd, junior Jay Neilson was 34th, and sophomore Vincent Scott was 35th for the Bears’ top five. Sophomore Joe Cooper, 44th, and senior Chris Heinrich, 46th, filled out the competitive top seven, nearly all within 20 seconds of their own PRs.
“This was a disappointing end to an incredible season, but the boys were all on the same page in Hawley and they gave it everything they had. They have a lot of positive things to take from the season on the whole and I’m proud of the progress each runner made throughout the year.”
GIRLS
The young girls’ team was put to the test in Hawley, and the challenging course proved a bit too much for the largely inexperienced team. Although no girls advanced to the State Meet or posted PRs, sophomore Madie Heinrich led the team with an 18th place finish, followed by Shantelle Davidson in 25th, and Jessie Buegler in 39th. First-year runners Brenley Anderson (61st), Jennie Buegler (62nd), and Lacy Holen (64th) filed in next, with veteran Karlie Eaton pushing herself through a painful 4000-meters to place 70th.
“I know the girls were not happy with the way things turned out in Hawley. The course was tough and the times were off, but they still supported each other as a team. This will definitely benefit them in the future.”
Friesen and Ketchum race at 11 a.m. Sat., Nov. 6, on the campus of St. Olaf College in Northfield.