ALBANY - Monroe senior Brett DeNure looks like he's in postseason form after surging ahead of Platteville junior Tanner Beebe to win the large-school division race at the Baertschi Invitational.
Behind DeNure (17 minutes, 1.96 seconds) and a fifth-place finish by senior Cullen Sampson (17:50.82), Monroe ran to a runner-up finish Saturday in Albany.
Platteville, which placed five runners in the top 13, edged the Cheesemakers, 42-54 for the invite title. Monroe, ranked ninth in the Division 2 Cross Country Coaches Poll, ran without two of their top runners in sophomore Dylan Starck and senior Joe Pecora. Starck and Pecora were given the meet off to rest and gear up for the Southern Badger Conference meet at Oregon on Oct. 18.
For DeNure, the philosophy of running without two of the Cheesemakers' top runners was clear cut.
"It was just run as good as you can and the team will fall into place," DeNure said. "I'm just trying to get myself in a position to do well at the end of the year. That is what cross country is all about."
Sampson, a fellow senior, looked at running the race as an opportunity to prepare for the conference meet.
"We just came out here to run the best we could," Sampson said. "We were obviously trying to get into position to win."
Monroe coach Dave Hirsbrunner said he wanted to get a look at a strong core of runners competing in the same race and vying for the No. 5 spot, including freshmen Joel Henry, Luke Peterson, Justin Scott, Brandon Mortimer and Gavin Wels.
"My wife always says, 'You are only as good as your fifth runner,' " Hirsbrunner said. "We are looking for a fifth runner. It's not to put pressure on them. They know the fifth runner is make-or-break."
Henry ran an excellent race, finishing 14th (18:45.08), after leading the Hillmen's No. 4 and 5 runners most of the race. Peterson took 16th with a time of 18:57.34.
The hills on the course provided a mental challenge.
DeNure said running a challenging course will help the Cheesemakers get ready for the conference, sectional and state meets.
"Our bodies are there, it's just overcoming the minds," DeNure said. "We don't have to get pressured by other teams ranking us. It doesn't mean much to us."
Albany senior Jake Lincicum, who finished fourth at the Division 3 state meet last year, won the small-school division race with a time 17:26.68.
"I would like to have won overall but first place is nothing to be upset about," Lincicum said.
Lincicum ran 17 seconds faster Saturday than his time from the same meet last year.
"That's a good sign," he said. "I feel pretty good going into conference."
Lincicum has battled a hip injury, but he doesn't expect it to hinder him at the conference meet Oct. 18.
"It is bothering me," he said. "Today I started out too hard. I am not worried about it for conference."
Every runner at this time of year has to overcome some adversity.
"At this point in the year, you have to get through it," Albany coach Tony Brewer said. "No one cares. Nothing will come easy for anybody now."
The Comets also received a 12th-place finish by Drew Mather (19:00) and an 18th-place finish by Reece Whitehead (19:14.23).
The last time the Albany's boys cross country team qualified for state was in 1997.
"That (state) is what is motivating them," Brewer said. "Darlington in our sectional looks untouchable on paper."
New Glarus-Monticello finished second (75 points) overall in the small-school division behind champion Marshall.
New Glarus-Monticello was led by Corey Jones, who finished fourth with a time of 18:05. The Knights had four runners in the top 19, including Carl Pratt, eighth (18:50); Tyler Meier, 16th (19:06); and Kelvin Pryor, 19th (19:23.28).
Behind DeNure (17 minutes, 1.96 seconds) and a fifth-place finish by senior Cullen Sampson (17:50.82), Monroe ran to a runner-up finish Saturday in Albany.
Platteville, which placed five runners in the top 13, edged the Cheesemakers, 42-54 for the invite title. Monroe, ranked ninth in the Division 2 Cross Country Coaches Poll, ran without two of their top runners in sophomore Dylan Starck and senior Joe Pecora. Starck and Pecora were given the meet off to rest and gear up for the Southern Badger Conference meet at Oregon on Oct. 18.
For DeNure, the philosophy of running without two of the Cheesemakers' top runners was clear cut.
"It was just run as good as you can and the team will fall into place," DeNure said. "I'm just trying to get myself in a position to do well at the end of the year. That is what cross country is all about."
Sampson, a fellow senior, looked at running the race as an opportunity to prepare for the conference meet.
"We just came out here to run the best we could," Sampson said. "We were obviously trying to get into position to win."
Monroe coach Dave Hirsbrunner said he wanted to get a look at a strong core of runners competing in the same race and vying for the No. 5 spot, including freshmen Joel Henry, Luke Peterson, Justin Scott, Brandon Mortimer and Gavin Wels.
"My wife always says, 'You are only as good as your fifth runner,' " Hirsbrunner said. "We are looking for a fifth runner. It's not to put pressure on them. They know the fifth runner is make-or-break."
Henry ran an excellent race, finishing 14th (18:45.08), after leading the Hillmen's No. 4 and 5 runners most of the race. Peterson took 16th with a time of 18:57.34.
The hills on the course provided a mental challenge.
DeNure said running a challenging course will help the Cheesemakers get ready for the conference, sectional and state meets.
"Our bodies are there, it's just overcoming the minds," DeNure said. "We don't have to get pressured by other teams ranking us. It doesn't mean much to us."
Albany senior Jake Lincicum, who finished fourth at the Division 3 state meet last year, won the small-school division race with a time 17:26.68.
"I would like to have won overall but first place is nothing to be upset about," Lincicum said.
Lincicum ran 17 seconds faster Saturday than his time from the same meet last year.
"That's a good sign," he said. "I feel pretty good going into conference."
Lincicum has battled a hip injury, but he doesn't expect it to hinder him at the conference meet Oct. 18.
"It is bothering me," he said. "Today I started out too hard. I am not worried about it for conference."
Every runner at this time of year has to overcome some adversity.
"At this point in the year, you have to get through it," Albany coach Tony Brewer said. "No one cares. Nothing will come easy for anybody now."
The Comets also received a 12th-place finish by Drew Mather (19:00) and an 18th-place finish by Reece Whitehead (19:14.23).
The last time the Albany's boys cross country team qualified for state was in 1997.
"That (state) is what is motivating them," Brewer said. "Darlington in our sectional looks untouchable on paper."
New Glarus-Monticello finished second (75 points) overall in the small-school division behind champion Marshall.
New Glarus-Monticello was led by Corey Jones, who finished fourth with a time of 18:05. The Knights had four runners in the top 19, including Carl Pratt, eighth (18:50); Tyler Meier, 16th (19:06); and Kelvin Pryor, 19th (19:23.28).
