MONROE - Both New Glarus-Monticello senior Madeline Brunner and Monroe sophomore Alyssa Dale put in summer miles running, envisioning a strong cross country season in the fall.
Both Brunner and Dale got off to banner starts at the 17th annual Bruess Invitational at Twining Park on Tuesday. Brunner finished third with a time of 13 minutes, 31 seconds and Dale took 13th (14:00). Madison Edgewood sophomore Amy Davis won the race with a time of 12:43.
"I think for the first time this season it's definitely a good start," Brunner said. "We are not where we need to be. It's a great start to show what we are capable of at the end of the season."
Dubuque Wahlert outdistanced Dubuque Hempstead 48-56 for the team championship. New Glarus-Monticello finished third (108) and Monroe took fourth (124). Dale got off to the strong start she was striving for, and the Cheesemakers finished ahead of conference rivals Edgewood and Stoughton.
"I feel a lot stronger," Dale said. "My goal was to break 14 minutes and I did that. We wanted to beat Stoughton. Last year we lost to them by one point."
Brunner also had high expectations for the Glarner Knights.
"We wanted to pull off some good times," she said. "In the back of our minds we wanted to bring home a trophy."
The Cheesemakers had five of the top 35 runners. In addition to Dale, sophomore Elise Rossing took 17th (14:20) and sophomore Kelley Baumann was 28th (14:40). Senior Lizzy Dale finished 31st (14:42) and junior Nicole Witt was 35th (14:48).
"We really didn't know what we would have," Monroe coach Dave Hirsbrunner said. "We didn't know who would be our top runner. It was nice to see Alyssa come to the front of that group. Overall, it was a nice way to start the season for the girls."
Hirsbrunner said he was happy to see that the top five runners for the Cheesemakers were only separated by 48 seconds.
The Knights had two of the top 11 runners. In addition to Brunner, senior Anna Cruse took 11th (13:45). Sophomore Sam Barr took 25th (14:38) and sophomore Bri Roska finished 33rd (14:45). Junior Carly Duerst finished 36th (14:51) to round out the top five for the Knights.
"Two in the top 11 is really good," New Glarus-Monticello coach Steve Wehrley said. "I think they both have the ability. You don't know until the gun goes off. This is one of those meets where you don't know what you have until it's over."
Both Brunner and Dale got off to banner starts at the 17th annual Bruess Invitational at Twining Park on Tuesday. Brunner finished third with a time of 13 minutes, 31 seconds and Dale took 13th (14:00). Madison Edgewood sophomore Amy Davis won the race with a time of 12:43.
"I think for the first time this season it's definitely a good start," Brunner said. "We are not where we need to be. It's a great start to show what we are capable of at the end of the season."
Dubuque Wahlert outdistanced Dubuque Hempstead 48-56 for the team championship. New Glarus-Monticello finished third (108) and Monroe took fourth (124). Dale got off to the strong start she was striving for, and the Cheesemakers finished ahead of conference rivals Edgewood and Stoughton.
"I feel a lot stronger," Dale said. "My goal was to break 14 minutes and I did that. We wanted to beat Stoughton. Last year we lost to them by one point."
Brunner also had high expectations for the Glarner Knights.
"We wanted to pull off some good times," she said. "In the back of our minds we wanted to bring home a trophy."
The Cheesemakers had five of the top 35 runners. In addition to Dale, sophomore Elise Rossing took 17th (14:20) and sophomore Kelley Baumann was 28th (14:40). Senior Lizzy Dale finished 31st (14:42) and junior Nicole Witt was 35th (14:48).
"We really didn't know what we would have," Monroe coach Dave Hirsbrunner said. "We didn't know who would be our top runner. It was nice to see Alyssa come to the front of that group. Overall, it was a nice way to start the season for the girls."
Hirsbrunner said he was happy to see that the top five runners for the Cheesemakers were only separated by 48 seconds.
The Knights had two of the top 11 runners. In addition to Brunner, senior Anna Cruse took 11th (13:45). Sophomore Sam Barr took 25th (14:38) and sophomore Bri Roska finished 33rd (14:45). Junior Carly Duerst finished 36th (14:51) to round out the top five for the Knights.
"Two in the top 11 is really good," New Glarus-Monticello coach Steve Wehrley said. "I think they both have the ability. You don't know until the gun goes off. This is one of those meets where you don't know what you have until it's over."
