REEDSBURG - Even without their No. 1 runner, the Monroe boys cross country team finished second at the Badger Challenge on Tuesday.
Monroe coach Dave Hirsbrunner said Ethan Moehn isn't at 100 percent right now so they didn't want him to run. Baraboo edged Monroe for the team title by about 2 minutes. The Thunderbirds' top five runners finished with a combined time of 89:04.3 just ahead of the Cheesemakers (91:35.8).
"We kind of gave up the championship," Hirsbrunner said. "We wanted to see if we could beat Fort Atkinson without our No. 1 runner and we did that. I'm really happy of the way we raced."
Monroe's Jake Hirsbrunner finished fourth in the junior-senior race with a time of 17 minutes, 43 seconds and Steve Christiansen took eighth (17:57). A.J. Cifuentes took 11th (18:13), just missing a medal.
"A.J. has put together back-to-back very good races now," coach Hirsbrunner said. "It's something he couldn't do last year. We are proud of him. He is a contender now."
Christiansen battled some cramps in his calf but was still able to finish in the top 10.
"When he tightened up, Jake really stepped up," Hirsbrunner said. "It's nice to see guys can fill into openings when they need to."
Jeremy Miller took fifth in the freshmen-sophomore race with a time of 18:42. Payton Hoesly took 28th in the junior-senior race (19:02). Hirsbrunner was also excited that Hoesly was able to finish as the No. 5 runner after battling injuries for several years.
"To see him break out and be our fifth man, he has been battling for years with injuries for that," he said. "It's a big step for Payton."
The Monroe girls cross country team finished eighth. Nicole Witt finished 13th in the junior-senior race (17:45), just missing a medal. Alyssa Dale took 12th in the freshmen-sophomore race and also just missed a medal, finishing with a time of 18:01.
"Nicole Witt really battled to get 13th," Hirsbrunner said. "She's getting better every time out. She was really broke up she didn't medal. It's nice to see she isn't satisfied."
Elise Rossing took 17th in the freshmen-sophomore race (18:26). Freshman Maddie Kallgren was the Cheesemakers' No. 4 runner, but her time wasn't finlaized as of press time.
Hirsbrunner said the Cheesemakers may move up one spot in the team standings.
Abby Oudinot took 29th (18:46). Lizzy Dale rounded out the top five for the Cheesemakers taking 31st in the senior race (19:02).
"They have been getting better every time out," Hirsbrunner said of the girls' team. "The conference is really loaded. Abby really made a big jump."
Monroe coach Dave Hirsbrunner said Ethan Moehn isn't at 100 percent right now so they didn't want him to run. Baraboo edged Monroe for the team title by about 2 minutes. The Thunderbirds' top five runners finished with a combined time of 89:04.3 just ahead of the Cheesemakers (91:35.8).
"We kind of gave up the championship," Hirsbrunner said. "We wanted to see if we could beat Fort Atkinson without our No. 1 runner and we did that. I'm really happy of the way we raced."
Monroe's Jake Hirsbrunner finished fourth in the junior-senior race with a time of 17 minutes, 43 seconds and Steve Christiansen took eighth (17:57). A.J. Cifuentes took 11th (18:13), just missing a medal.
"A.J. has put together back-to-back very good races now," coach Hirsbrunner said. "It's something he couldn't do last year. We are proud of him. He is a contender now."
Christiansen battled some cramps in his calf but was still able to finish in the top 10.
"When he tightened up, Jake really stepped up," Hirsbrunner said. "It's nice to see guys can fill into openings when they need to."
Jeremy Miller took fifth in the freshmen-sophomore race with a time of 18:42. Payton Hoesly took 28th in the junior-senior race (19:02). Hirsbrunner was also excited that Hoesly was able to finish as the No. 5 runner after battling injuries for several years.
"To see him break out and be our fifth man, he has been battling for years with injuries for that," he said. "It's a big step for Payton."
The Monroe girls cross country team finished eighth. Nicole Witt finished 13th in the junior-senior race (17:45), just missing a medal. Alyssa Dale took 12th in the freshmen-sophomore race and also just missed a medal, finishing with a time of 18:01.
"Nicole Witt really battled to get 13th," Hirsbrunner said. "She's getting better every time out. She was really broke up she didn't medal. It's nice to see she isn't satisfied."
Elise Rossing took 17th in the freshmen-sophomore race (18:26). Freshman Maddie Kallgren was the Cheesemakers' No. 4 runner, but her time wasn't finlaized as of press time.
Hirsbrunner said the Cheesemakers may move up one spot in the team standings.
Abby Oudinot took 29th (18:46). Lizzy Dale rounded out the top five for the Cheesemakers taking 31st in the senior race (19:02).
"They have been getting better every time out," Hirsbrunner said of the girls' team. "The conference is really loaded. Abby really made a big jump."
