WYOCENA - Cross country coaches enter every season knowing that a runner has only a small amount of races to run at their top level.
The Monroe boys cross country team showed a glimpse of how special the season could be Tuesday after winning the Badger Challenge for the sixth time in seven years at Wyona Park, about 10 miles southeast of Portage.
The Cheesemakers had three of the top eight runners in the junior-senior race led by senior Dylan Starck who finished third with a time of 16 minutes, 57 seconds. Four of Monroe's top five runners turned in personal best times.
"We look at it as a big meet," Monroe boys cross country coach Dave Hirsbrunner said. "It's still the middle of the season. It's a meet we like to run hard at."
Monroe finished with a combined time of 86:59, which was just ahead of runner-up Baraboo (88:00). The Challenge is scored by combining the team's best five individual runners from the freshman-sophomore and junior-senior races. Monroe juniors Joel Henry and Luke Peterson each ran PRs. Henry finished sixth in the junior-senior race with a time of 17:08 and Peterson took eighth with a time of 17:15.
Monroe sophomore Steve Christiansen took second in the freshman-sophomore race with a time of 17:43 and freshman Ethan Moehn took fifth (17:56). Both Christiansen and Moehn ran PRs.
Monroe has 11 days before its next meet.
The Monroe girls cross country team finished 12th out of 13 teams.
"Our focus is Oct. 16, the Badger South Conference meet," Monroe girls cross country coach Brian Jefferson said.
Thirteen of Monroe's 24 girls who ran finished with a PR.
Monroe's Abby Rogerson finished 14th in the freshman-sophomore with a time of 17:23. Nicole Witt took 19th in the freshman-sophomore race with a PR of 17:38.
Monroe sophomore Lizzy Dale ran a 17:48, junior Molly Hlubek finished in 17:58 and senior Rachel Rogerson ran an 18:05.
The Monroe boys cross country team showed a glimpse of how special the season could be Tuesday after winning the Badger Challenge for the sixth time in seven years at Wyona Park, about 10 miles southeast of Portage.
The Cheesemakers had three of the top eight runners in the junior-senior race led by senior Dylan Starck who finished third with a time of 16 minutes, 57 seconds. Four of Monroe's top five runners turned in personal best times.
"We look at it as a big meet," Monroe boys cross country coach Dave Hirsbrunner said. "It's still the middle of the season. It's a meet we like to run hard at."
Monroe finished with a combined time of 86:59, which was just ahead of runner-up Baraboo (88:00). The Challenge is scored by combining the team's best five individual runners from the freshman-sophomore and junior-senior races. Monroe juniors Joel Henry and Luke Peterson each ran PRs. Henry finished sixth in the junior-senior race with a time of 17:08 and Peterson took eighth with a time of 17:15.
Monroe sophomore Steve Christiansen took second in the freshman-sophomore race with a time of 17:43 and freshman Ethan Moehn took fifth (17:56). Both Christiansen and Moehn ran PRs.
Monroe has 11 days before its next meet.
The Monroe girls cross country team finished 12th out of 13 teams.
"Our focus is Oct. 16, the Badger South Conference meet," Monroe girls cross country coach Brian Jefferson said.
Thirteen of Monroe's 24 girls who ran finished with a PR.
Monroe's Abby Rogerson finished 14th in the freshman-sophomore with a time of 17:23. Nicole Witt took 19th in the freshman-sophomore race with a PR of 17:38.
Monroe sophomore Lizzy Dale ran a 17:48, junior Molly Hlubek finished in 17:58 and senior Rachel Rogerson ran an 18:05.
