DARLINGTON - The Darlington boys cross country team had five of the top 11 runners as the Redbirds captured the title of the Darlington Invitational Saturday.
The Redbirds were led by senior Jaden Komprood who won the 5,000-meter race. Komprood was the overall champion finishing with a time of 16 minutes, 40.9 seconds, well ahead of runner-up Brian Mathews of Riverdale (17:27.1). The Redbirds rolled to the team title 32-99 over second-place Albany.
"Those upperclassmen have been running a lot of miles," Darlington coach Arnie Miehe said. "It's great to see it paying off."
Darlington senior Blake Cwynar finished fifth (17:46.4). Senior teammate Sean Barbee took seventh (17:51.9) and freshman Payton Heinberg was eighth (17:54.3). Darlington sophomore Tanner Evenstad finished 11th to round out the top five for the Redbirds.
"Payton was a surprise," Miehe said. "The upperclassmen they know not to go out too fast and the freshmen followed."
Albany senior Tyler Dahl took 10th (18:20.3) to lead the Comets. Junior teammate Isaac Halverson finished 12th (18:20.5) and freshman Josh Dahl took 13th (18:24.4).
Monroe, which rested its top five runners coming off the Bruess Invitational, took fifth place (140) and Pecatonica-Argyle was last in the 13-team meet.
"We traditionally do not run well at Darlington," Monroe coach Dave Hirsbrunner said. "It's hard to focus on our home opener and then turn around a few days later and race again. That is why we are trying to be careful with many of our runners. If anyone has injuries right now, we error on the side of caution."
The top runner for the Cheesemakers was junior Parker Ingold who took 17th (18:38.4). Monroe junior Ryan Peterson finished 20th (18:57.8) and senior Derek Christiansen in his first race of the season was 25th (19:17.3). Senior Jack Schluesche took 34th (19:37.7) and junior Josh Smith took 52nd (21:06.4).
"He (Ingold) was still a little tired from our home meet, but he did a nice job to finish in the top 20," Hirsbrunner said. "Josh Smith was moved up to varsity to give us a complete team. Josh and Alex O'Brien did a nice job filling in for some guys. They could have won or been near the top in the JV race."
The other top runners for Albany were junior Connor Trow who finished 33rd (19:34.4) and junior Travis Oliver who was 37th (19:45.9). The top two runners for Pecatonica-Argyle were senior Login Swearingen who finished 67th (22:03.1) and junior Tristan Wagge who took 71st (22:13.2).
Monroe will run in the Madison West Invite Thursday at Lake Farm Park and Darlington will run in the River Valley Invitational Saturday. The River Valley Invite will include Boscobel, Albany and Lancaster.
"It will be like a mini sectional meet," Miehe said. "We will find out where we are."
The Redbirds were led by senior Jaden Komprood who won the 5,000-meter race. Komprood was the overall champion finishing with a time of 16 minutes, 40.9 seconds, well ahead of runner-up Brian Mathews of Riverdale (17:27.1). The Redbirds rolled to the team title 32-99 over second-place Albany.
"Those upperclassmen have been running a lot of miles," Darlington coach Arnie Miehe said. "It's great to see it paying off."
Darlington senior Blake Cwynar finished fifth (17:46.4). Senior teammate Sean Barbee took seventh (17:51.9) and freshman Payton Heinberg was eighth (17:54.3). Darlington sophomore Tanner Evenstad finished 11th to round out the top five for the Redbirds.
"Payton was a surprise," Miehe said. "The upperclassmen they know not to go out too fast and the freshmen followed."
Albany senior Tyler Dahl took 10th (18:20.3) to lead the Comets. Junior teammate Isaac Halverson finished 12th (18:20.5) and freshman Josh Dahl took 13th (18:24.4).
Monroe, which rested its top five runners coming off the Bruess Invitational, took fifth place (140) and Pecatonica-Argyle was last in the 13-team meet.
"We traditionally do not run well at Darlington," Monroe coach Dave Hirsbrunner said. "It's hard to focus on our home opener and then turn around a few days later and race again. That is why we are trying to be careful with many of our runners. If anyone has injuries right now, we error on the side of caution."
The top runner for the Cheesemakers was junior Parker Ingold who took 17th (18:38.4). Monroe junior Ryan Peterson finished 20th (18:57.8) and senior Derek Christiansen in his first race of the season was 25th (19:17.3). Senior Jack Schluesche took 34th (19:37.7) and junior Josh Smith took 52nd (21:06.4).
"He (Ingold) was still a little tired from our home meet, but he did a nice job to finish in the top 20," Hirsbrunner said. "Josh Smith was moved up to varsity to give us a complete team. Josh and Alex O'Brien did a nice job filling in for some guys. They could have won or been near the top in the JV race."
The other top runners for Albany were junior Connor Trow who finished 33rd (19:34.4) and junior Travis Oliver who was 37th (19:45.9). The top two runners for Pecatonica-Argyle were senior Login Swearingen who finished 67th (22:03.1) and junior Tristan Wagge who took 71st (22:13.2).
Monroe will run in the Madison West Invite Thursday at Lake Farm Park and Darlington will run in the River Valley Invitational Saturday. The River Valley Invite will include Boscobel, Albany and Lancaster.
"It will be like a mini sectional meet," Miehe said. "We will find out where we are."
