GC girls take fourth, boys fifth at SCC Cross Country meet

HAMMOND — Suffocating humidity took its toll on some athletes competing in the St. Croix Central Cross County Invitational here Thursday, September 3 prompting a call to 9-1-1 for medical intervention.

Glenwood City’s athletes fortunately were not among those requiring treatment.

“We ran smart,” said Glenwood City head coach Matthew Schutz. “We had no heat-related issues at all.”

With all of its runners that competed able to finish, the Glenwood City girls placed fourth out of ten teams while the boys team took fifth in a field of eight schools.

Despite the absent of its top runner, senior Morgan Kadinger who was unable to compete due to an illness, the Lady Hilltoppers finished “comfortably” in fourth according to the head coach.

“With Morgan, we would have been a clear third,” Schutz added.

Glenwood’s girls tallied 129 points to finish seven points in front of host St. Croix Central. Middle Border teams from Prescott and Osceola captured the top two teams spots with the Cardinals scoring the number one slot with 42 points followed by the lady Chieftains at 76. Elk Mound was the Dunn-St. Croix’ top team, as its girls took third with 116 points.

St. Croix Central edged Durand, 66 to 70, for the boys’ team title with Prescott taking third with 75 points, Osceola was just a point back in fourth followed by Toppers’ boys team at 139 and Boyceville with 167.

“Our boys fifth-place finish was good considering three of the top four teams were division 2,” noted Schutz.

“Overall, I was happy with the way we ran.”

With its senior leader sidelined, Makayla O’Brien led the girls squad. The sophomore was the first to cross the finish line taking ninth place after she completed the 5,000 meter course in 24:14.69. Senior Maya Petersen, less than 40 seconds off O’Brien’s pace, became the second Toppers’ runner to finish, taking 18th place with a time of 24:52.28.

The Toppers third through sixth place runners were Kaylie Scalze in 26:00.32 for 30th, Elizabeth Wink had a 26:31.13 to place 34th, Emma Scholler ran to 51st place with a time of 28:17.90, and Tia Carlson with a 29:43.69 to grab 64th.

Senior Jack Kremer and sophomore Riley Schutz once again led the Glenwood City boys. Kremer had a team best 17th place showing after finishing in 20:03.52 and Schutz ran a 20:24.78 for 21st.

The Toppers’ next three runners finished one right after the other in a span of eight seconds. Jacob Nadeau ran a 21:44.98, Andrew Bauman was clocked in 21:46.09, and Matthew Wink finished in 21:52 as they were 36th, 37th and 38th respectively.

Owen Wagner took 46th with a 22:16.61 followed by Corey Klatt at 52nd in 22:36.60 and Matthew Bauman in 24:21.82 to finish 81st.

Glenwood City is scheduled to compete in a pair of invitationals over the next week. This Saturday, September 12, the Hilltoppers will travel to Fall Creek followed by a meet on the UW-Barron County campus in Rice Lake on Tuesday, September 15.