ALBANY — The Comets have seen strong gains at each of their first three cross country meets of the 2020 season, with the most recent meet coming on the home Baertschi Farm course Sept. 19 in a triangular against Iowa-Grant and Southwestern-Cuba City-Benton.
“We had a good meet on both sides,” said Tony Brewer, Albany’s coach. “It’s not Baertschi’s, it’s only three teams. It’s a more relaxed atmosphere, but I thought we ran well. We had good competition. Our groupings were good and we got better from last week to this week.”
The Albany girls team rolled to a meet title, with SWCCB finishing second by a single point over Iowa-Grant. Freshman Ava Ahnen was the first Comet to cross the finish line, and third overall, striding in at 21 minutes, 3.4 seconds.
Kayci Martensen, a SWCCB junior, was the race champion, crossing the finish line at 18:53.4. Freshman Hanna Martensen was second (20:55.0).
We had a good meet on both sides. It’s not Baertschi’s, it’s only three teams. It’s a more relaxed atmosphere, but I thought we ran well. We had good competition. Our groupings were good and we got better from last week to this week.Tony Brewer, Albany coach
Sophomore McKenna Broughton (21:41.8) was fourth overall for Albany, followed by Payton Wacholz (23:11.0), Linsey Mueller (24:03.4), Avary Briggs (24:08.0) and Kaiya Zurfluh (24:12.5).
Last year, Broughton and Mueller were the team’s top two runners all year, despite being just freshmen. As sophomores, their roles on the leadership end have increased.
“I think I have a lot of room to grow from last year,” Broughton said. “I think our team can go pretty far. As a team, we need to keep working harder and harder. We still have a lot of growing to do.”
Ahnen, though just a freshman, has prepared for years to get ready for her first varsity season.
“It’s definitely a big change, running from a 1.5K, or a 1.3K to a 3.1 against harder teams and harder competition. It’s a pretty big jump,” Ahnen said, comparing middle school racing to high school varsity. “It’s a really fun experience. I really enjoy running against the girls because I have run against some of them since sixth grade. I think it’s a really fun sport and a really good time.”
The Comets do not have a senior on the girls squad. Despite the youth, the team believes the sky is the limit for what lies ahead.
“I look at it a little bit different — since we have a good runner coming up (Ava), that will make our team a lot better. Maybe state? That would be great,” Broughton said.
Brewer said that when the spring sports season was canceled in April, his runners turned their focus to cross country and began training aggressively right away.
“They are very dedicated. This is a close-knit group. They are taking full advantage of having a season,” Brewer said, adding that there isn’t a lack of leadership in the group.
In the boys race, Iowa-Grant’s Nick Connolly (17:25.0) won by 48 seconds, a pace of 5:37 per mile.
Albany sophomore Gage Roth and junior Jesse Schwartz crossed the finish line just one step apart. Roth (19:00.4) was fourth overall, while Schwartz (19:00.06) was fifth.
Freshman Brayden Bakken (20:01.8) finished eighth overall for the Comets. Albany’s other runners included Owen Baertschi (21:01.2), Brian Cid (21:33.3), Drew Sertle (21:34.9) and Bailey Schroeder (26:32.5).
I look at it a little bit different — since we have a good runner coming up (Ava), that will make our team a lot better. Maybe state? That would be grea.McKenna Broughton, Albany sophomore
Iowa-Grant won the meet with 32 points, while SWCCB was second (44) and Albany third (51). Roth said that despite finishing last as a team, the strides he and his teammates have had already this season have been positive.
“The course is by no means easier — especially earlier in the season. Fewer teams mean you will score higher, and that can give you more confidence,” Roth said.
The boys team runs in the shadow of the girls in Albany, something Brewer said the team acknowledges.
“This team is on the rise. I don’t know if they can get to the top tier this year, but I think that we can get to the second tier. We’re going to find out how good we can be. I’ve liked what I’ve seen so far,” Brewer said. “Looking from our first to second week, our guys all got a lot better, and then the same today. Last year we finished eighth at conference. Individually last year, we had some decent seasons, but our team results weren’t very good. We’ve made some big strides, and today I think we made a bigger stride.”
Roth said the boys team has been dedicated to training harder than in recent years, and that they hope they are laying the foundation to bring the program up a few notches.
“Practice has been harder, just because we’ve been trying harder and we know that we have a bigger advantage with these smaller meets. I think we’ve done a good job of pushing each other,” Roth said.
