Davidson continues to blaze trail to victory at cross-country meets

Coach Sariina Kalli

Northland-Deer River Invitational, Tuesday, September 24, 2002
Ridgewood Golf Course, Longville, MN
Girls Junior High
(2,400 meters)
Sam Reinert, 1st, 10:38
Sam Ballard, 3rd, 11:27
Aimee Sugden, 17th, 14:37
No Team Score
Girls Varsity Race
(4,000 meters)
Shantelle Davidson, 2nd, 16:33
Madie Heinrich, 9th, 17:53
Sheila Johnson, 13th, 18:09
Jessy Olsen, 15th, 18:19
Elyse Dornhecker, 18th, 18:30
Lindsey Laugtug, 21st, 18:51
Elaina Hansen, 24th, 19:32
Team Results
Northland-Deer River, 48
Lake of the Woods, 57
Menahga-Sebeka, 83
Pine River-Backus, 95
Pequot Lakes, 97
All other teams (1) incomplete
Boys Varsity Race
(5,000 meters)
Matt Neilson, 5th, 18:47
Jay Neilson, 13th, 19:23
Chris Heinrich, 17th, 20:19
Garrett Ravndalen, 18th, 20:20
Victor Ballard, 28th, 21:25
Team Results
Northland-Deer River, 44
Pequot Lakes, 67
Lake of the Woods, 81
Menahga-Sebeka, 103
Pine River-Backus, 106
All other teams (2) incomplete
Coach’s Comments/Highlights
Several of our runners are battling annoying injuries and illnesses this week, yet a few were able to lock in personal records (PRs) in Longville on Tuesday (Sept. 24).
In the girls junior high race, teammates Sam Reinert and Sam Ballard sped around the mile and a half loop and placed first and third respectively. These two girls have been working hard in practice and on weekends, and it paid off in PRs.
Our varsity girls came within 9 points of the thus-far elusive Northland-Deer River team. Underclassmen Shantelle Davidson and Madie Heinrich placed second and ninth for the Bears on Tuesday, decreasing the gap between our first and second runners. Jessy Olsen’s 18:19 finish was her best time of the season so far. She ran a smart race with teammate Elyse Dornhecker and outkicked both Dornhecker and a Deer River runner in the last 400 meters. She set a perfect example of the effort each runner has to give in order to rise to the next level.
The boys varsity team placed third of five full teams in Longville, led once again by junior Matt Neilson with his 5th place, 18:47 finish. His brother, freshman Jay Neilson, earned himself an 8-second PR by completing the 5,000-meter course in 19 minutes, 23 seconds. He placed 13th. Victor Ballard knocked 37 seconds off his previous best time, crossing the line in 21:25.
Lake of the Woods Cross Country
Coach Sariina Kalli Home: 218-783-3006 School: 218-634-2510 X1411
East Grand Forks Invitational, Thursday, September 26, 2002
Valley Golf Course
Girls Junior High
(3,200 meters)
Sam Ballard, 16th, 15:46
Aimee Sugden, 36th, 19:28
No Team Score
Girls Varsity Race (4,000 meters)
Shantelle Davidson, 5th, 16:05
Sam Reinert, 15th, 17:32
Elyse Dornhecker, 21st, 17:52
Sheila Johnson, 27th, 18:08
Madie Heinrich, 35th, 18:50
Lindsey Laugtug, 37th, 18:55
Amanda McGraw, 39th, 19:14
Elaina Hansen, 41st, 19:27
Team Results
East Grand Forks, 44
Lake of the Woods, 103
Red River, 114
Thief River Falls, 138
Warroad, 145
Grafton, 174
All other teams (7) incomplete
Boys Varsity Race
(5,000 meters)
Matt Neilson, 16th, 18:04
Jay Neilson, 38th, 19:02
Tyler Bredeson, 41st, 19:20
Garrett Ravndalen, 47th, 19:38
Chris Heinrich, 51st, 20:11
Victor Ballard, 56th, 21:06
Team Results
East Grand Forks, 43
Warroad, 53
Red River, 80
Thief River Falls, 110
Hawley-UH, 132
Devil’s Lake, 162
Bagley-Fosston, 168
Lake of the Woods, 193
Mayport-Clifford Galesberg, 213
All other teams (3) incomplete
Coach’s Comments/Highlights
Schools from Minnesota and North Dakota competed in the East Grand Forks meet on Thursday and our varsity girls placed second behind EGF in the six-team field.
Freshman Shantelle Davidson competed with sore shins and a cold, but she still led the Bears with her 5th place finish in 16 minutes, 5 seconds. Seventh grader Sam Reinert jumped up from her junior high victory earlier in the week to place second for the Bears on varsity. She placed 15th in her first 4,000-meter attempt, with a time of 17:32. Junior Elyse Dornhecker ran through knee pain, but finally figured out a race strategy that pushed her under 18 minutes. She clocked in with a season PR of 17:52 for 21st place.
As we hit the midway point of the season, the girls’ team is really showing promise in Section 8A. With the exception of Davidson as our number one runner, the order of our top seven has been different at every race. Reinert’s addition to the established group can only benefit our girls in the second half of the season.
Three boys logged personal records (PRs) and two others earned season bests in East Grand Forks, despite placing eighth in the nine-team field. Junior Matt Nielson knocked 41 seconds of his previous best, placing 16th with a time of 18:04. Freshman Jay Neilson sliced 29 seconds of his PR, finishing 38th in 19:02. Junior Victor Ballard continues to whittle his 5,000-meter time down, crossing the line in 21:06. Sophomores Garrett Ravndalen and Chris Heinrich each raced faster in EGF than they have all season, running a 19:38 and 20:11 respectively. Junior Tyler Bredeson was only 8 seconds off his season record with a 19:20.
With only six boys on the team, it is more important than ever for them to work together and pull each other to faster times. These athletes are starting to gel as a team and it shows with everyone hitting good times at midseason.