By Natalie Dillon
ndillon@
themonroetimes.com
MONROE — With nearly a 30-second lead on the second-place runner, Monroe’s Tre Dammen focused on what lie ahead of him — the finish line. The junior was the boys individual champion and led Monroe to a first-place finish in the Bruess Invite on Tuesday, Sept. 3.
“It’s a lot different. You have to be careful about it,” Dammen said of having such a large lead. “Toward the end of the race, you are just pushing. I was just trying to catch the scooter at the end of the race.”
In addition to having the top finisher, the Hounds used pack running to win the race. Their next three scorers — Padriac Houston, Lukas Gerber and Kamrin Gerber-Reamer — finished within 30 seconds of one another. Monroe’s second pack — Connor Eckdhal, Elijah Cook and Brady Keehn — were within 12 seconds of one another.
The annual Bruess Invite, honoring former athletic director and cross country coach Clarence Bruess who passed away in January, is the first for many local cross country teams. It is an early indicator of how prepared runners are for the rest of the season.
“I was really excited all year for this race,” Dammen said. “Other champions on this course went like, 16:30 on this race, and I just ran around 16:15. I’m really excited for how the season will go. Our team ran really well, too.”
Monroe boys ended the 2023 season ranked No. 14 in Division 2 per the Wisconsin Cross Country Coaches Association Poll with Dammen as an individual state qualifier.
Monroe girls lost to Mount Horeb by just one point. The Vikings ended the 2023 season ranked No. 10 in Division 2.
The Lady Hounds did not have a senior runner in the meet, instead relying on their youth. Three freshmen — Vicki Wolf, Kaylen Cassidy and Alivia Mosher — one sophomore — Lyla Ritschard — and one junior — Mary Mckenzie — scored points.
New Glarus-Monticello girls, who won the invite last year, finished fourth overall. The Knights, 2023 state qualifiers, had two runners in the top 10 — Molly Olson and Ruthie Zuber.
NGM boys finished 8 of 11 teams.
Albany boys, with just five runners, finished sixth overall. The Comets don’t have a senior, either. Junior Kaleb Broughton led the pack with classmate Beckett Wachholz bringing up the rear. The three scorers in the middle are underclassmen.
The Lady Comets did not field a team, with just Emerson Briggs, Lydia Ahnen and Amy Schwartz participating.
Belleville finished bottom of the pack in both races.
