ALBANY - Before the season even started, New Glarus-Monticello cross country coach Steve Wehrley said freshmen runners could make an immediate impact.
His prediction bore out Saturday, as the Glarner Knights received a big run from freshman Kerry McCoy and placed five in the top 12 to win the small schools division at the Baertschi Invitational 24-38 over Poynette. Pecatonica-Argyle (144) finished seventh out of eight teams.
New Glarus-Monticello senior Madeline Brunner won the race with a time of 16 minutes, 1 second. Senior Anna Cruse finished third (16:36) just ahead of Albany junior Bailey Hlavachek who took fourth (16:54) and Albany's Sydnee Woyak was seventh (17:22). New Glarus-Monticello sophomore Sam Barr finished eighth (17:23), McCoy took 10th (17:37) and sophomore Bri Roska was 12th (17:46).
"We needed just two other runners to come through for us," Wehrley said after Brunner and Cruse's finishes. "We didn't know who would come through. They are essentially equal. I think if one does well one week it fires them up next week. It's a cycle working to our benefit."
Albany coach Tony Brewer was proud of the way Woyak and Hlavachek ran.
"I think Sydnee ran great," said Brewer, who expects to have a full girls team for the SWAL meet on Thursday. "Bailey has been battling a cold the last two to three weeks ... Hopefully, by Thursday she will be ready to go."
Wehrley said he hopes the Knights are peaking, but he has his fingers crossed that a cold doesn't sweep through the team.
"I think they are getting faster as the season goes on," Wehrley said. "I think they are peaking time- and competition-wise."
Pecatonica-Argyle freshman Samantha Erickson took 16th to lead the Vikings with a time of 17:53. Fellow freshman Hannah James finished 25th (18:28) and senior Emma Marion was 31st (18:55). Senior Kensie Burreson finished 47th (20:11) and junior Cora Demler took 53rd (20:35) to round out the top five for the Vikings.
In the large schools race, Brodhead-Juda finished eighth (230) and Monroe took 11th (263) out of 12 teams. The Cheesemakers rested their top seven runners. Brookfield Central outdistanced Oregon 41-60 to capture the title. The Cheesemakers had three freshmen run in the race. Freshman Abby Oudinot took 42nd (18:00) and sophomore Ramsey Benkert was 44th (18:05). Freshman Maddie Kallgren finished 50th (18:17), Meghan Sampson took 63rd (19:55) and freshman Isabel Bazley was 64th (19:57).
"This wasn't a PR for Abby, but it was a heck of a race," Monroe coach Dave Hirsbrunner said. "She went very smart and kept working her way up as the race developed. She has been getting progressively faster as the season has gone on. Her form is getting better all the time as well. Abby is loaded with athletic ability. We think she could be a major contributor for the remaining meets."
The Cardinals were led by freshman Taylor Bluemel who took 25th (17:11). Junior Morganne Goecks finished 40th (17:57) and junior Camilla Klar took 51st (18:23).
Freshmen Danielle Dieckhoff (18:56) and Hayley Shelton (19:26) finished 56th and 58th.
New Glarus-Monticello and Monroe are both looking forward to conference meets and the Monroe sectional Oct. 20.
"We have a very tough sectional," Wehrley said. "Right now, everyone thinks we are probably fifth. We need to get to the starting line thinking we have a chance at second."
His prediction bore out Saturday, as the Glarner Knights received a big run from freshman Kerry McCoy and placed five in the top 12 to win the small schools division at the Baertschi Invitational 24-38 over Poynette. Pecatonica-Argyle (144) finished seventh out of eight teams.
New Glarus-Monticello senior Madeline Brunner won the race with a time of 16 minutes, 1 second. Senior Anna Cruse finished third (16:36) just ahead of Albany junior Bailey Hlavachek who took fourth (16:54) and Albany's Sydnee Woyak was seventh (17:22). New Glarus-Monticello sophomore Sam Barr finished eighth (17:23), McCoy took 10th (17:37) and sophomore Bri Roska was 12th (17:46).
"We needed just two other runners to come through for us," Wehrley said after Brunner and Cruse's finishes. "We didn't know who would come through. They are essentially equal. I think if one does well one week it fires them up next week. It's a cycle working to our benefit."
Albany coach Tony Brewer was proud of the way Woyak and Hlavachek ran.
"I think Sydnee ran great," said Brewer, who expects to have a full girls team for the SWAL meet on Thursday. "Bailey has been battling a cold the last two to three weeks ... Hopefully, by Thursday she will be ready to go."
Wehrley said he hopes the Knights are peaking, but he has his fingers crossed that a cold doesn't sweep through the team.
"I think they are getting faster as the season goes on," Wehrley said. "I think they are peaking time- and competition-wise."
Pecatonica-Argyle freshman Samantha Erickson took 16th to lead the Vikings with a time of 17:53. Fellow freshman Hannah James finished 25th (18:28) and senior Emma Marion was 31st (18:55). Senior Kensie Burreson finished 47th (20:11) and junior Cora Demler took 53rd (20:35) to round out the top five for the Vikings.
In the large schools race, Brodhead-Juda finished eighth (230) and Monroe took 11th (263) out of 12 teams. The Cheesemakers rested their top seven runners. Brookfield Central outdistanced Oregon 41-60 to capture the title. The Cheesemakers had three freshmen run in the race. Freshman Abby Oudinot took 42nd (18:00) and sophomore Ramsey Benkert was 44th (18:05). Freshman Maddie Kallgren finished 50th (18:17), Meghan Sampson took 63rd (19:55) and freshman Isabel Bazley was 64th (19:57).
"This wasn't a PR for Abby, but it was a heck of a race," Monroe coach Dave Hirsbrunner said. "She went very smart and kept working her way up as the race developed. She has been getting progressively faster as the season has gone on. Her form is getting better all the time as well. Abby is loaded with athletic ability. We think she could be a major contributor for the remaining meets."
The Cardinals were led by freshman Taylor Bluemel who took 25th (17:11). Junior Morganne Goecks finished 40th (17:57) and junior Camilla Klar took 51st (18:23).
Freshmen Danielle Dieckhoff (18:56) and Hayley Shelton (19:26) finished 56th and 58th.
New Glarus-Monticello and Monroe are both looking forward to conference meets and the Monroe sectional Oct. 20.
"We have a very tough sectional," Wehrley said. "Right now, everyone thinks we are probably fifth. We need to get to the starting line thinking we have a chance at second."
