MONROE - Monroe senior Tess Seichter likely was thrilled to run in the Cheesemaker Chase at Twining Park after training while on vacation in the high altitude of Colorado.
Seichter won the women's side of the race Saturday running the 4K in 17 minutes, 10 seconds, which was just ahead of 2007 Monroe graduate Rachel Wiesenberg (17:10.1).
Wiesenberg, a junior at Luther College who is running cross country and track, won the junior division of the Cheesemaker Chase just ahead of her Luther teammate Anna Wikan, who finished second, and third overall (17:10.15).
"She (Seichter) has always been a hard worker," Wiesenberg said. "We told each other we would run together and push each other to the finish line."
Wiesenberg gave Seichter a tour of Luther College earlier this summer in an effort to recruit her former teammate to run cross country and track at the school next year.
"We are trying to get Tess to come to Luther," Wiesenberg said. "Hopefully, she will be wearing the blue with us."
Seichter was excited about having the challenge and push from two other runners.
"I really look up to Rachel," Seichter said. "It was really hard because I just got back from Colorado and the altitude makes it hard there. I think I could have been better. I was just really glad Rachel and Anna were there."
There were 24 runners in the women's race and Monroe girls cross country coach Brian Jefferson hopes to build an annual tradition with the Cheesemaker Chase.
Sara Viner won the freshman division with a time of 18:08. Jill Hobart won the graduate division with a time of 21:55 and Lynn Welander took first in the senior division (22:46).
"The Monroe parents did a great job of helping get everything set up, taken down and registering runners," Jefferson said.
Seichter won the women's side of the race Saturday running the 4K in 17 minutes, 10 seconds, which was just ahead of 2007 Monroe graduate Rachel Wiesenberg (17:10.1).
Wiesenberg, a junior at Luther College who is running cross country and track, won the junior division of the Cheesemaker Chase just ahead of her Luther teammate Anna Wikan, who finished second, and third overall (17:10.15).
"She (Seichter) has always been a hard worker," Wiesenberg said. "We told each other we would run together and push each other to the finish line."
Wiesenberg gave Seichter a tour of Luther College earlier this summer in an effort to recruit her former teammate to run cross country and track at the school next year.
"We are trying to get Tess to come to Luther," Wiesenberg said. "Hopefully, she will be wearing the blue with us."
Seichter was excited about having the challenge and push from two other runners.
"I really look up to Rachel," Seichter said. "It was really hard because I just got back from Colorado and the altitude makes it hard there. I think I could have been better. I was just really glad Rachel and Anna were there."
There were 24 runners in the women's race and Monroe girls cross country coach Brian Jefferson hopes to build an annual tradition with the Cheesemaker Chase.
Sara Viner won the freshman division with a time of 18:08. Jill Hobart won the graduate division with a time of 21:55 and Lynn Welander took first in the senior division (22:46).
"The Monroe parents did a great job of helping get everything set up, taken down and registering runners," Jefferson said.
