BRODHEAD - The Brodhead-Juda cross country team opened its season by hosting a five-team invitational Thursday at the high school.
"It's nice being home because the kids know the course and it's an easier transition into the start of the season," Brodhead-Juda coach Curt Gratz said. "Our kids did real well today. Both teams showed a lot."
Cardinals freshman Meg Duffield opened up her varsity career by winning the girls 4-kilometer race.
"We all wanted to do our best for the team," Duffield said, who finished with a time of 17 minutes, 18 seconds. "I knew I could finish near the top, not at the top. It felt good."
Duffield beat Edgerton sophomore Cassie Chapados by seven seconds. Brodhead-Juda freshman Camilla Klar (18:40) finished 11th, senior Shannon Klein (18:57) took 13th, freshman Jenna Klein (19:10) took 15th and freshman Gene Balch (19:59) was 21st.
"Meg is capable of winning some races. One-through-three or four, we have a strong core of girls," Gratz said, whose girl's team finished in third place with 61 points, which was ahead of Madison Edgewood (111) and tied with Beloit Turner. Edgerton (51) and Evansville (44) finished as the top scoring teams.
With four talented freshmen finishing in the top five for the Cardinals, Gratz knows his team has a lot of potential.
"We've got a great chance to grow this year. We have a young squad with a lot of potential," Gratz said.
On the boys side, Brodhead-Juda senior Dan Drewes (18:06) took second, finishing 19 seconds behind Beloit Turner's Jose Perez in the 5K race.
"It was tiring. Mentally disabling. Not only that, but then the heat wears on you," Drewes said. "But if I would have cut 15 seconds off, I would have been at my PR (personal record). That just gives a little mark on where I hope to be this year."
Brodhead-Juda (43) finished in second behind Beloit Turner (32), and ahead of Edgerton (73) and Evansville (77). Madison Edgewood did not have a boys team in the meet.
Junior Tate Harnack (18:26) finished fifth, sophomore Carter Jorgenson was eighth (19:00), senior Kyle Lockhart was 10th (19:08) and freshman Justin Krumwiede rounded out the Cardinals' scoring with a 19th-place finish (20:09).
Drewes said that without school in session, he felt he may have been a little more prepared for the race.
"It's nice because you get your 10 1/2 hours of sleep. You get to eat well - eat a little bit before you come and pick what you eat. And you get to get here early and when you want. It's a little bit more relaxed," Drewes said. "(Being home), it takes the two-hour drive out of it. It keeps you awake. And you know the course, which helps."
Brodhead-Juda now has over a week off before running at the Lodi Invitational Sept. 4.
"Lodi has probably the toughest course we run all year, so it will be nice to get that one out of the way early in the season," Gratz said.
"It's nice being home because the kids know the course and it's an easier transition into the start of the season," Brodhead-Juda coach Curt Gratz said. "Our kids did real well today. Both teams showed a lot."
Cardinals freshman Meg Duffield opened up her varsity career by winning the girls 4-kilometer race.
"We all wanted to do our best for the team," Duffield said, who finished with a time of 17 minutes, 18 seconds. "I knew I could finish near the top, not at the top. It felt good."
Duffield beat Edgerton sophomore Cassie Chapados by seven seconds. Brodhead-Juda freshman Camilla Klar (18:40) finished 11th, senior Shannon Klein (18:57) took 13th, freshman Jenna Klein (19:10) took 15th and freshman Gene Balch (19:59) was 21st.
"Meg is capable of winning some races. One-through-three or four, we have a strong core of girls," Gratz said, whose girl's team finished in third place with 61 points, which was ahead of Madison Edgewood (111) and tied with Beloit Turner. Edgerton (51) and Evansville (44) finished as the top scoring teams.
With four talented freshmen finishing in the top five for the Cardinals, Gratz knows his team has a lot of potential.
"We've got a great chance to grow this year. We have a young squad with a lot of potential," Gratz said.
On the boys side, Brodhead-Juda senior Dan Drewes (18:06) took second, finishing 19 seconds behind Beloit Turner's Jose Perez in the 5K race.
"It was tiring. Mentally disabling. Not only that, but then the heat wears on you," Drewes said. "But if I would have cut 15 seconds off, I would have been at my PR (personal record). That just gives a little mark on where I hope to be this year."
Brodhead-Juda (43) finished in second behind Beloit Turner (32), and ahead of Edgerton (73) and Evansville (77). Madison Edgewood did not have a boys team in the meet.
Junior Tate Harnack (18:26) finished fifth, sophomore Carter Jorgenson was eighth (19:00), senior Kyle Lockhart was 10th (19:08) and freshman Justin Krumwiede rounded out the Cardinals' scoring with a 19th-place finish (20:09).
Drewes said that without school in session, he felt he may have been a little more prepared for the race.
"It's nice because you get your 10 1/2 hours of sleep. You get to eat well - eat a little bit before you come and pick what you eat. And you get to get here early and when you want. It's a little bit more relaxed," Drewes said. "(Being home), it takes the two-hour drive out of it. It keeps you awake. And you know the course, which helps."
Brodhead-Juda now has over a week off before running at the Lodi Invitational Sept. 4.
"Lodi has probably the toughest course we run all year, so it will be nice to get that one out of the way early in the season," Gratz said.
