Elk Mound runners get practice run on conference course
COLFAX — With the Dunn St. Croix Conference meet being held Oct. 17 at Whitetail Golf Course, the Elk Mound cross country teams had a chance to run the course against five other conference teams at the Colfax Invitational Oct. 7.
Ben Holzwarth found the course to his liking as he defeated 72 other competitors to take top honors with a time of 17:01 as the Mounder boys placed third while the girls team, running without their number two runner finished last.
Following Holzwarth for Elk Mound was Caleb Kruger in sixth place at 18:18 and Justin Fedie was seven seconds behind him at 18:25 for seventh place. Lucas Winter came in under 19 minutes at 18:59 for 16th place and further back in 41st place came Hayden Kohls at 21:04 and Josh Hall was on his heels for 42nd at 21:11.
Elizabeth Fasbender was back to leading the Mounder girls, finishing ninth in 17:34 for the 4K race. Sam Jain completed the course in 19:08 for 29th place, Nevada LaPointe was 32nd at 19:38, and doing some pack running, Waive Melgaard placed 38th at 20:03 followed by Elayna Gutsch at 20:07 for 40th, Jamie Solem was 41st at 20:18, Danae Sternecker was 43rd at 20:46, Sarah Winchester was just behind her in 44th at 20:52 and Corrine Zimmer finished 45th at 20:55.
“Nearly everyone on the team cut down on their time from the season or from their personal best,” Elk Mound coach Jeremiah Fredrickson said. “We couldn’t be happier with the results although we do have room for improvement. When we back off on our training I think we will see another drop in times. We are shaping up to finish a very good season on two fairly fast courses. Having never run on the Colfax course, this gave our kids a chance to see the course and get prepared for conference next week,” he added.
GIRLS VARSITY TEAM SCORES: Colfax 35, Glenwood City 67, Spring Valley 71, Mondovi 76, St. Croix Central 125, Elk Mound 139
BOYS VARSITY SCORES: St. Croix Central 45, Boyceville 57, Elk Mound 63, Colfax 81, Spring Valley 121, Mondovi 135