DARLINGTON - The first glimpse of the Darlington cross country team brought many great returns for the Redbirds.
The Redbirds finished fourth place at the season-opening Darlington Invitational Saturday, Sept. 7. Dodgeville-Mineral Point outdistanced Mount Horeb for the team title 48-62. Dodgeville-Mineral Point junior Hannah Owens finished first with a time of 15 minutes, 23 seconds. Madison Edgewood senior Courtney Link, who took second, helped the Crusaders (78) to third place, ahead of Darlington (104). All three teams that finished ahead of the Redbirds are Division 2 teams. The Redbirds finished 13 points ahead of conference rival Boscobel, which had two of the top eight runners.
"Dodgeville by far is the best Division 2 team in the state," Miehe said. "I knew we didn't have the firepower. I was pleased with how our team did. It shows them that they can be in the mix for the conference championship. It solidified where we are at."
The top local finishers were Albany senior Bailey Hlavachek who took 11th (16:44) and Darlington senior Claire Cullen who finished 12th (16:51) out of 99 runners. Miehe was excited by Cullen's start to the season, which was 23 seconds faster than last year at this meet.
"She ran a very smart and calculated race," he said.
Darlington freshman Paige Schilling finished 17th (17:10) and junior teammate Johanna Meister was 24th (17:40). Darlington senior Darby Fitzsimons took 28th (18:08) and Albany sophomore Sydnee Woyak was 30th (18:15).
Pecatonica-Argyle was led by sophomore Samantha Erickson, who finished 36th (18:43), and senior teammate Lizzy Ritschard, who was 38th (18:45) to lead the Vikings to a seventh-place finish. Darlington senior Carly Reilly took 37th (18:45) and was the No. 5 runner for the Redbirds. Reilly's time was about one minute faster than last year at this time.
"I think all of those kids will only improve," Miehe said. "I'm excited about the possibilities this year. That is good news."
Monroe rested its top runners and the only one who ran in the varsity race was sophomore Maddie Kallgren. Kallgren finished 57th (19:53). She missed the Bruess Invitational because she had her wisdom teeth pulled so Saturday was her first race this year.
"She wanted to get a race under her belt before next week," Monroe coach Dave Hirsbrunner said. "She didn't run the time that she would have liked, but I give her credit going out so soon after getting her wisdom teeth removed."
The Redbirds finished fourth place at the season-opening Darlington Invitational Saturday, Sept. 7. Dodgeville-Mineral Point outdistanced Mount Horeb for the team title 48-62. Dodgeville-Mineral Point junior Hannah Owens finished first with a time of 15 minutes, 23 seconds. Madison Edgewood senior Courtney Link, who took second, helped the Crusaders (78) to third place, ahead of Darlington (104). All three teams that finished ahead of the Redbirds are Division 2 teams. The Redbirds finished 13 points ahead of conference rival Boscobel, which had two of the top eight runners.
"Dodgeville by far is the best Division 2 team in the state," Miehe said. "I knew we didn't have the firepower. I was pleased with how our team did. It shows them that they can be in the mix for the conference championship. It solidified where we are at."
The top local finishers were Albany senior Bailey Hlavachek who took 11th (16:44) and Darlington senior Claire Cullen who finished 12th (16:51) out of 99 runners. Miehe was excited by Cullen's start to the season, which was 23 seconds faster than last year at this meet.
"She ran a very smart and calculated race," he said.
Darlington freshman Paige Schilling finished 17th (17:10) and junior teammate Johanna Meister was 24th (17:40). Darlington senior Darby Fitzsimons took 28th (18:08) and Albany sophomore Sydnee Woyak was 30th (18:15).
Pecatonica-Argyle was led by sophomore Samantha Erickson, who finished 36th (18:43), and senior teammate Lizzy Ritschard, who was 38th (18:45) to lead the Vikings to a seventh-place finish. Darlington senior Carly Reilly took 37th (18:45) and was the No. 5 runner for the Redbirds. Reilly's time was about one minute faster than last year at this time.
"I think all of those kids will only improve," Miehe said. "I'm excited about the possibilities this year. That is good news."
Monroe rested its top runners and the only one who ran in the varsity race was sophomore Maddie Kallgren. Kallgren finished 57th (19:53). She missed the Bruess Invitational because she had her wisdom teeth pulled so Saturday was her first race this year.
"She wanted to get a race under her belt before next week," Monroe coach Dave Hirsbrunner said. "She didn't run the time that she would have liked, but I give her credit going out so soon after getting her wisdom teeth removed."
