MONROE - The one-two punch from Baraboo was too much for the Monroe High School boys cross country team to overcome in a battle with the Thunderbirds in the Badger Challenge on Tuesday at Twining Park.
Baraboo had the top two runners in the junior-senior race en route to winning the meet by a combined 1 minute, 44 seconds over Monroe. It marks the second straight year Baraboo has captured the Challenge team title.
The meet was scored based on the top five runners for each team over both the junior-senior and freshman-sophomore races. Baraboo senior Joey Rausch won the 5,000-meter junior-senior race in a time of 16:25.5. Senior teammate Austin Castleberry placed second (16:51).
"We didn't have the firepower to beat Baraboo," Monroe coach Dave Hirsbrunner said. "Our goal was to beat all the Badger South schools, and we did that. To take second with the way we have been racing is really good for our program."
Monroe junior Nick Baumann finished fourth in the junior-senior race (17:01.5).
"I knew Baraboo had a couple of top guys," Baumann said. "At the beginning of the race, I don't focus on any guys in the race. I just try to stay relaxed and conserve my energy as much as possible."
Baumann was confident the Cheesemakers would be in the mix for the team title.
"I knew we had a chance today because we were running on our home course, and we are one of the top teams in the Badger Conference," Baumann said. "We just wanted to see where we stacked up today. We wanted to have a good showing on our home course."
Monroe senior Thang Lu captured 14th (17:54.2) and junior Parker Ingold took 18th (18:09.9).
Monroe sophomore Dylan Scace claimed third in the freshman-sophomore race (17:43), and sophomore Drake Ingold was sixth (18:09.7).
Two other runners the Cheesemakers are counting on this season are junior Ryan Peterson, sophomore Jonah Tostrud and senior Derek Christiansen. Peterson took 26th in the junior-senior race (18:45.9). Christiansen, who was an all-conference runner last year, is getting back into the swing after having his wisdom teeth pulled and missing the season-opening Bruess Invitational. Tostrud is battling a leg injury.
"He (Christiansen) didn't go out for track in the spring," Hirsbrunner said. "That has set him back. We are hoping to get him right for October. Jonah has sore legs, and he didn't run in spikes."
Baraboo had the top two runners in the junior-senior race en route to winning the meet by a combined 1 minute, 44 seconds over Monroe. It marks the second straight year Baraboo has captured the Challenge team title.
The meet was scored based on the top five runners for each team over both the junior-senior and freshman-sophomore races. Baraboo senior Joey Rausch won the 5,000-meter junior-senior race in a time of 16:25.5. Senior teammate Austin Castleberry placed second (16:51).
"We didn't have the firepower to beat Baraboo," Monroe coach Dave Hirsbrunner said. "Our goal was to beat all the Badger South schools, and we did that. To take second with the way we have been racing is really good for our program."
Monroe junior Nick Baumann finished fourth in the junior-senior race (17:01.5).
"I knew Baraboo had a couple of top guys," Baumann said. "At the beginning of the race, I don't focus on any guys in the race. I just try to stay relaxed and conserve my energy as much as possible."
Baumann was confident the Cheesemakers would be in the mix for the team title.
"I knew we had a chance today because we were running on our home course, and we are one of the top teams in the Badger Conference," Baumann said. "We just wanted to see where we stacked up today. We wanted to have a good showing on our home course."
Monroe senior Thang Lu captured 14th (17:54.2) and junior Parker Ingold took 18th (18:09.9).
Monroe sophomore Dylan Scace claimed third in the freshman-sophomore race (17:43), and sophomore Drake Ingold was sixth (18:09.7).
Two other runners the Cheesemakers are counting on this season are junior Ryan Peterson, sophomore Jonah Tostrud and senior Derek Christiansen. Peterson took 26th in the junior-senior race (18:45.9). Christiansen, who was an all-conference runner last year, is getting back into the swing after having his wisdom teeth pulled and missing the season-opening Bruess Invitational. Tostrud is battling a leg injury.
"He (Christiansen) didn't go out for track in the spring," Hirsbrunner said. "That has set him back. We are hoping to get him right for October. Jonah has sore legs, and he didn't run in spikes."
