After an intense season, the cross country team is ready for GAC’s at McNair Park on Oct. 16. As the races went on, the varsity girls team took the first place win with the JV boys team doing the exact same. In order to get a medal, each division had to place in the top 14.
The varsity boys had a strong start with Nate Wietbrock (12) in the front of the pack getting third place. Brayden Davies (12) earned seventh and Landon Pfeiffer (12) took 13th.
“It wasn’t my best race but I tried to compete as well as I could,” Wietbrock said. “The other boys also didn’t run their fastest races but I liked how I saw them compete and support each other after the race.”
The varsity girls team showed the same attitude with Bella Navarro-Sanchez (11) getting first place, Kailey Lawrence (12) earning third place. Kailynn Burton (10) placed seventh with Ashley Sauceda (11) right behind her in ninth.
“I tried to stay really relaxed and moved up when I saw the opportunity,” Lawrence said. “I feel like it went just the way I wanted it to. I think the girls competed well together and we all had the team goal in mind.”
The JV boys team fought their way to the front with Carter Eldredge (9) earning first place with Jasper Leech (12) and Owen Greer (12) running side-by-side placing fifth and sixth. Another group not far off from the two were Cayden Schultz (12) in eighth, Tyler Besowshek (12) in ninth, and Daniel Olson (11) in 10th. Running close behind them is Nathan Miller (12) in 12th.
“I felt like I raced strongly against the other racers. I tried to get out of my comfort zone in the beginning by starting out faster than I usually do,” Greer said.
The JV girls went out strong with Ava Mincher (10) earning first place with Mirra McSpadden (12) in fourth right behind her. Brooklyn Firebaugh (10) tackled her way to 12th place with Keira Donohue (9) following behind in 14th.
“I felt pretty good at the start of my race so I started out strong, I saw an opportunity to pass some people in the front and took the risk because I felt pretty confident that I could and I’m very glad I did. But overall I feel like I raced pretty well. I thought the jv girls competed really really good,” Mincher said.
The team is more than ready to go to their next destination which will be at Sioux Passage where districts will be held on Nov. 1.
