MONROE - Matt Barrett, a former University of Minnesota cross country and track runner, won the men's 5K Cheesemaker Chase in dominating fashion.
Barrett, who graduated from Monroe in 2005 and Minnesota this past spring, finished first Saturday with a time of 14 minutes, 58 seconds. He easily defeated runner-up Patrick Klein. Barrett is now working at Swiss Colony and he will serve as a volunteer assistant coach for the Monroe cross country team as he trains for the U.S. Championship half marathon in Houston Jan. 11.
"I'm using this as a training race for bigger races to come," Barrett said.
He is at home running the course at Twining Park. Barrett owns the high school course record in the 5K at Twining Park with a time of 15:20.
"I could run this course backwards with my eyes closed," he said. "Waking up, I thought 15 flat," he said of his goal. "Getting here, I didn't think it was possible."
Barrett is looking forward to his first coaching experience.
"I'm excited," he said. "I have a lot of energy for it. It will keep me training."
Two Darlington High School cross country runners finished at the top of the women's 4K. Darlington junior Amy Jorgenson won the race with a time of 17:39, which was three seconds ahead of teammate Cheyenne Wolfe (17:42). Monroe graduate Tess Seichter finished third with a time of 18:22.
Jorgenson has run about 350 miles this summer training for the cross country season.
"It felt good to pick up the pace a little bit after putting in so many miles," she said.
Jorgenson said she and Wolfe helped push each other.
"When you get tired and look over, she is tired too," Jorgenson said. "You just keep going."
The Darlington girls cross country team is looking to qualify for state for the fourth straight year.
"It's a very big goal," Jorgenson said of qualifying for state. "We have Westby in our sectional. It's a question mark. We have had a lot of girls put in a lot of miles. It will be interesting."
Barrett, who graduated from Monroe in 2005 and Minnesota this past spring, finished first Saturday with a time of 14 minutes, 58 seconds. He easily defeated runner-up Patrick Klein. Barrett is now working at Swiss Colony and he will serve as a volunteer assistant coach for the Monroe cross country team as he trains for the U.S. Championship half marathon in Houston Jan. 11.
"I'm using this as a training race for bigger races to come," Barrett said.
He is at home running the course at Twining Park. Barrett owns the high school course record in the 5K at Twining Park with a time of 15:20.
"I could run this course backwards with my eyes closed," he said. "Waking up, I thought 15 flat," he said of his goal. "Getting here, I didn't think it was possible."
Barrett is looking forward to his first coaching experience.
"I'm excited," he said. "I have a lot of energy for it. It will keep me training."
Two Darlington High School cross country runners finished at the top of the women's 4K. Darlington junior Amy Jorgenson won the race with a time of 17:39, which was three seconds ahead of teammate Cheyenne Wolfe (17:42). Monroe graduate Tess Seichter finished third with a time of 18:22.
Jorgenson has run about 350 miles this summer training for the cross country season.
"It felt good to pick up the pace a little bit after putting in so many miles," she said.
Jorgenson said she and Wolfe helped push each other.
"When you get tired and look over, she is tired too," Jorgenson said. "You just keep going."
The Darlington girls cross country team is looking to qualify for state for the fourth straight year.
"It's a very big goal," Jorgenson said of qualifying for state. "We have Westby in our sectional. It's a question mark. We have had a lot of girls put in a lot of miles. It will be interesting."
