MONROE - Monroe senior Tess Seichter is chasing what New Glarus-Monticello senior Kelsey Bernet has enjoyed the last three years - a trip to the WIAA state cross country meet.
If the season opening 14th annual Bruess Invitational is any indication, it will be a tight race. Bernet finished third, running the 3,200-meter race in 13 minutes, 22 seconds, which was just one second ahead of Seichter, who took fourth (13:23).
"I have no regrets in this race," Seichter said. "I was pushed by a lot of fast people. I took this one pretty seriously."
Bernet, who is looking to make a fourth straight trip to state, wasn't satisfied with her first race.
"I didn't run as fast at the mile as I usually do," Bernet said. "I would like to make it back to state. It would be great if the team could go, too."
Mount Horeb-Barneveld, the defending WIAA Division 2 state champions, won the Bruess Invite title by outdistancing Wahlert of Dubuque, Iowa, 54-78. Monroe finished third overall (80), which marked the Cheesemakers' best finish in the last three years.
"There is no shame in missing second place by two points and getting beat by the WIAA Division 2 defending state champ," Monroe girls cross country coach Brian Jefferson said. "I think the girls are happy but at the same time a bit disappointed. They wanted that runner-up plaque. That hunger is a good thing to have."
Monroe sophomore Molly Hlubek finished eighth (14:04) and freshman Abby Rogerson was 21st (14:25).
"(Hlubek) ran a very good smart race," Jefferson said. "We talked about getting out and putting her in contention to place well. She challenged the pace from the start and ran a good race."
New Glarus-Monticello's LouAnn Judd took 14th (14:16) and Rachel Miller finished 20th (14:24) to help the Knights to a fifth-place finish.
Albany junior Ingrid Kallgren finished 17th (14:20) and Pecatonica-Argyle sophomore Kendra Sigg was 19th (14:23).
Monroe's Molly Wyss won the junior varsity race with a time of 14:49, which would have tied her with teammate Elizabeth Dale for 30th place if she would have ran the varsity race.
"I knew she was talented, but holy cow," Jefferson said. "She really blew some times away. Once again this goes to show that we have some girls ready to push for varsity spots. This will make us a stronger team in the long run."
If the season opening 14th annual Bruess Invitational is any indication, it will be a tight race. Bernet finished third, running the 3,200-meter race in 13 minutes, 22 seconds, which was just one second ahead of Seichter, who took fourth (13:23).
"I have no regrets in this race," Seichter said. "I was pushed by a lot of fast people. I took this one pretty seriously."
Bernet, who is looking to make a fourth straight trip to state, wasn't satisfied with her first race.
"I didn't run as fast at the mile as I usually do," Bernet said. "I would like to make it back to state. It would be great if the team could go, too."
Mount Horeb-Barneveld, the defending WIAA Division 2 state champions, won the Bruess Invite title by outdistancing Wahlert of Dubuque, Iowa, 54-78. Monroe finished third overall (80), which marked the Cheesemakers' best finish in the last three years.
"There is no shame in missing second place by two points and getting beat by the WIAA Division 2 defending state champ," Monroe girls cross country coach Brian Jefferson said. "I think the girls are happy but at the same time a bit disappointed. They wanted that runner-up plaque. That hunger is a good thing to have."
Monroe sophomore Molly Hlubek finished eighth (14:04) and freshman Abby Rogerson was 21st (14:25).
"(Hlubek) ran a very good smart race," Jefferson said. "We talked about getting out and putting her in contention to place well. She challenged the pace from the start and ran a good race."
New Glarus-Monticello's LouAnn Judd took 14th (14:16) and Rachel Miller finished 20th (14:24) to help the Knights to a fifth-place finish.
Albany junior Ingrid Kallgren finished 17th (14:20) and Pecatonica-Argyle sophomore Kendra Sigg was 19th (14:23).
Monroe's Molly Wyss won the junior varsity race with a time of 14:49, which would have tied her with teammate Elizabeth Dale for 30th place if she would have ran the varsity race.
"I knew she was talented, but holy cow," Jefferson said. "She really blew some times away. Once again this goes to show that we have some girls ready to push for varsity spots. This will make us a stronger team in the long run."
