Viking runners place second at Fall Creek’s Knute Invite

FALL CREEK — The Colfax boys cross country team claimed second place while the girls tied for second at the Knutson Invitational meet held Sept. 8 in Fall Creek.

With 10 teams and 65 individuals competing in the girl’s event, the Viking’s Dempsey Fogarty claimed medalist honors for the second time this year, racing through the course at 16:02, 10 seconds faster then Tori Winters of Flambeau. Teammate Courtney Dressel was close behind in fourth at 16:37 and Brittany Rothbauer was the third Colfax runner to cross the finish line in 13th place at 17:59. Heidi Lieffort came in at 19:23 in 31st, Kenna Breckner followed in 34th at 19:33 and Mackenzie Anderson and Mallie Doucette came in close together with Anderson in 49th at 20:56 and Doucette in 50th at 21:07.

Minneapolis Henry Sibley won the team title while Colfax and Tomahawk finished in a deadlock for second.

“Our girls finished a bit better then we did at Bruce,” coach Joe Doucette said. “Dempsey winning a race of this caliber says a lot about her talent and potential. She beat Tori Winters who was in the top 10 at state last year and had beaten Dempsey earlier this year. We were good in the 2-3 spot with Courtney and Brittany then got spread out a bit. I think we can get in better shape and get our 1-5 a little closer. We are very excited to see how we can improve.”

The five point scorers for the boys all placed in the top 20 of 78 individuals among 11 teams as Lachlan Hinwood continues to lead the Vikings with a fourth place finish in 18:03, just three seconds out of third place. Michael Larson claimed an eighth place at 18:29 and with usual number three runner Matthew Almquist busy taking his ACT test, freshman Hunter Lieffort took over his spot at 18:44 in 12th place. Jeremiah Harder and freshman Tucker Hovde placed 18th and 19th respectively with Harder’s time at 19:12 and Hovde at 19:16. Garrett Miller completed the course at 19:47 in 28th place and Daniel Schneider was 50th at 21:24.Bryan Tomek of Tomahawk won the race at 16:40 while Sibley won the team title.

“The boys ran well on a tough course that really tests your strength and ability to recover,” Doucette said. “Sibley is a big school and they were just a bit better in every spot. We are a much better team then we were at this time last year. Everybody has improved and our two freshmen fit right in. It’s early but we have a lot of potential if we can keep improving,” he added.

GIRLS TEAM SCORES: Henry Sibley 58, Colfax 83, Tomahawk 83, Fall Creek 102, Flambeau 117, Bloomer 148, Osseo-Fairchild 154, Elk Mound 197, Immanuel Lutheran 205, Eau Claire Regis 218

BOYS TEAM SCORES: Henry Sibley 48, Colfax 61, Tomahawk 91, Immanuel Lutheran 95, Elk Mound 134, Boyceville 152, Fall Creek 192, Augusta 194, Eau Claire Regis 225, Bloomer 267, New Auburn 329