Elk Mound runners compete at Osseo-Fairchild Invite

OSSEO-FAIRCHILD — Although weather wise it was a beautiful fall day for a race as the Elk Mound cross country teams traveled to Osseo-Fairchild Sept. 27, but the lack of rain in the area produced plenty of dust, making running a little tough on the hilly course, according to Mounder coach Jeremiah Fredrickson.

Despite that, Ben Holzwarth led the Mounder boys to a third place finish in a field of eight teams as he crossed the line in sixth place in a time of 18:24, while Emma Hayes also placed in the top ten for the girls, filling the eighth spot with a time of 18:07 as the team was sixth out of eight teams.

Mitch Zimmer continues to close the gap between himself and Holzwarth as he just missed the top ten, coming in 12th at 19:16 and the next four Mounders finished in a pack with Andrew Zabel in 21st at 19:58, Caleb Kruger on his heels in 22nd at 19:59, Shawn Lane in 25th at 20:14, and Lucas Winter in 31st at 20:36. Hunter Henning was the seventh runner for the team, placing 51st at 23:49. The race was won by Nick Zander of Chippewa Falls McDonell Central at 17:23. McDonell happens to be in the same sectional as the Mounders.

“We had a tough week of practice so our times are a little deceiving,” Fredrickson said. “We had several boys run personal bests with Caleb Kruger breaking the 20:00 mark for the first time. We run at Eleva next week which is the last meet before conference and I think our times will drop. Our boys are right where we should be at this point and they are set up to be successful at conference and sectionals.”

The rest of the Elk Mound girls also did some pack running but were pretty far behind Hayes as Sam Jain came in at the 30th spot at 20:42 followed by Waive Melgaard in 32nd at 21:22, Danae Sternecker right behind in 33rd at 21:26, Jamie Solem a place back in 34th at 21:30, Josie Hayes was 41st at 23:00 and Alex Hagberg came in 44th at 23:51. Megan Skoyen of Osseo-Fairchild took the top spot with a time of 17:15.

“The girls struggled, but it may have been from the hard week of practice,” Fredrickson said. “With a little recovery, their times should improve next week and at conference.”

BOYS TEAM RESULTS: McDonell Central 35, Altoona 44, Elk Mound 86, Augusta 114, Liberty Christian 114, Black River Falls 147, Mondovi 164, Cadott 197

GIRLS TEAM SCORES: Stanley-Boyd 50, Black River Falls, 57, Mondovi 95, Cadott 109, Osseo-Fairchild 122, Elk Mound 137, McDonell Central 142, Altoona 152