SPRING GREEN - The Albany girls cross country team had two runners in the top five en route to capturing the title in the small schools River Valley Blackhawk Invitational on Saturday.
Albany edged Viroqua for the championship with 84 points, edging Viroqua by four points (88). Darlington finished third (102). New Glarus-Monticello took 11th (254) out of 14 teams.
Belleville senior Noelle Marie won the individual title in the 5,000-meter race with a time of 19 minutes, 6 seconds.
Albany senior Ciara Kaderly finished fourth overall with a time of 20:29. Junior teammate Emma Guenther placed fifth (20:37).
"I think it was huge," Albany coach Tony Brewer said of the Comets winning the title. "It was night and day difference from the Darlington Invitational. Most of the teams from our sectional meet were there."
Albany sophomore Megan Anderson took 22nd (22:10) and freshman Kristin O'Bel placed 26th (22:19) followed by sophomore Kirsten Oliver who finished 27th (22:29).
"Right now the big concern is the gap between Emma and Megan," Brewer said. "Hopefully, this will motivate them to get better."
Darlington junior Reghan Komprood led the Redbirds with a seventh-place finish (20:54). Senior teammate Paige Schilling placed 10th (20:57) and junior Emma Crist took 18th (21:47). Sophomore teammate Ilse Mendez finished 20th (21:55) and junior Meghan Douglas was 47th (23:56).
New Glarus-Monticello sophomore Gabbie Sawyer took 11th (21:08) to lead the Glarner Knights. The Knights had two other runners in the top 60 - junior Gabby Whisler who finished 41st (23:16) and freshman Molly Molencamp who took 51st (23:46).
The Darlington boys cross country team ran away with the team championship with 41 points. Albany edged Viroqua for second 117-125 and Wisconsin Heights-Barneveld took fourth (127). New Glarus-Monticello took fifth (162) out of 15 teams.
Darlington had all five of its top runners in the top 17. Darlington sophomore Payton Heinberg won the race with a time of 16:54. Senior teammate Connor Hackett finished fifth (17:28) and junior Tanner Evenstad was sixth (17:29). Sophomore teammate Tucker Lange placed 12th (17:55) followed by junior Paul King in 17th (18:12).
Albany sophomore Josh Dahl finished ninth overall (17:45) and senior Isaac Halverson was 15th (18:06) to lead the Comets.
Albany senior Trevor Mueller placed 25th (18:37) followed by senior Connor Trow who took 32nd (18:53) and senior Jacob Elmer who was 36th (19:00).
"They stepped up and really ran well," Brewer said of the boys' team. "Most of the major players from the sectional were here. We know where Darlington sits. We are not concerned with beating them. We know some of their runners can beat out some other runners to help us out."
New Glarus-Monticello senior Kyle Fredrickson took third (17:11) to lead the Glarner Knights. Senior teammate Christian Arnett finished 14th (17:56) and freshman Adam Nelson was 21st (18:30). Senior teammate Andrew Newberry placed 53rd (19:39) and senior Cade Beutler was 71st (20:25).
Albany edged Viroqua for the championship with 84 points, edging Viroqua by four points (88). Darlington finished third (102). New Glarus-Monticello took 11th (254) out of 14 teams.
Belleville senior Noelle Marie won the individual title in the 5,000-meter race with a time of 19 minutes, 6 seconds.
Albany senior Ciara Kaderly finished fourth overall with a time of 20:29. Junior teammate Emma Guenther placed fifth (20:37).
"I think it was huge," Albany coach Tony Brewer said of the Comets winning the title. "It was night and day difference from the Darlington Invitational. Most of the teams from our sectional meet were there."
Albany sophomore Megan Anderson took 22nd (22:10) and freshman Kristin O'Bel placed 26th (22:19) followed by sophomore Kirsten Oliver who finished 27th (22:29).
"Right now the big concern is the gap between Emma and Megan," Brewer said. "Hopefully, this will motivate them to get better."
Darlington junior Reghan Komprood led the Redbirds with a seventh-place finish (20:54). Senior teammate Paige Schilling placed 10th (20:57) and junior Emma Crist took 18th (21:47). Sophomore teammate Ilse Mendez finished 20th (21:55) and junior Meghan Douglas was 47th (23:56).
New Glarus-Monticello sophomore Gabbie Sawyer took 11th (21:08) to lead the Glarner Knights. The Knights had two other runners in the top 60 - junior Gabby Whisler who finished 41st (23:16) and freshman Molly Molencamp who took 51st (23:46).
The Darlington boys cross country team ran away with the team championship with 41 points. Albany edged Viroqua for second 117-125 and Wisconsin Heights-Barneveld took fourth (127). New Glarus-Monticello took fifth (162) out of 15 teams.
Darlington had all five of its top runners in the top 17. Darlington sophomore Payton Heinberg won the race with a time of 16:54. Senior teammate Connor Hackett finished fifth (17:28) and junior Tanner Evenstad was sixth (17:29). Sophomore teammate Tucker Lange placed 12th (17:55) followed by junior Paul King in 17th (18:12).
Albany sophomore Josh Dahl finished ninth overall (17:45) and senior Isaac Halverson was 15th (18:06) to lead the Comets.
Albany senior Trevor Mueller placed 25th (18:37) followed by senior Connor Trow who took 32nd (18:53) and senior Jacob Elmer who was 36th (19:00).
"They stepped up and really ran well," Brewer said of the boys' team. "Most of the major players from the sectional were here. We know where Darlington sits. We are not concerned with beating them. We know some of their runners can beat out some other runners to help us out."
New Glarus-Monticello senior Kyle Fredrickson took third (17:11) to lead the Glarner Knights. Senior teammate Christian Arnett finished 14th (17:56) and freshman Adam Nelson was 21st (18:30). Senior teammate Andrew Newberry placed 53rd (19:39) and senior Cade Beutler was 71st (20:25).
