GC girls’ CC fourth, boys’ eighth at St. Croix Central Invite
By Cara L. Dempski
HAMMOND — The Hilltoppers ran in just one race last week, but it pitted the talented ladies against some great teams, and provided the boys’ with some valuable experience.
The Lady Toppers came away from the August 31 St. Croix Central Invitational with a fourth-place finish out of 11 teams after earning scoring 92 points at the meet. The boys’ were eighth out of 11 after scoring 188.
The meet was a mix of Middle Border and Dunn-St. Croix conference squads.
Sophomores Emily Bethell and Isabella Williams led the girls’ team. Bethell raced to sixth place with a time of 21:49.63, while Williams finished in 22:59.79 to take 18th. Gabrielle Moede was next across the line, finishing in 23:22.79 to earn 22nd place.
Makayla O’Brien finished in 24th with a time of 23:24.90, Megan Speiser was 28th after finishing in 23:47.89, Julia Dinkel took 39th with a 24:41.13 race, and Elizabeth Wink rounded out the scoring runners with 40th after crossing the line in 24:41.55.
Myah Eliason, Hanna Strehlo, Annika Bauman, Emma Scholler, Alexis Swanepoel and Nyah Anderson also competed for the Hilltoppers.
The top girls’ team was New Richmond, while Anya Swanson from Somerset won the overall race with a time of 20:09.90.
Jacob Nadeau led the Hilltopper boys’ with a time of 18:55.92 to take 13th in the race. Sophomore Jabin Hojem was less than two minutes behind with a final time of 20:14.29 for 35th. Lane O’Meara, Matthew O’Brien and Elijah Simmons were 48th, 52nd and 61st with times of 20:40.86, 20:47.69 and 21:12.47.
Bradley Kessler raced to a 22:14.80 finish for 80th place, and Henry Wallin was 118th with a time of 25:40.63. Kyle Meyers completed the group with a finish in 123rd and time of 26:32.13.
New Richmond’s boys’ took the team trophy to give the Tigers a clean sweep, but Durand’s Isaac Wegner won the overall individual race title with a time of 17:29.10.
Glenwood City is now on a break until September 12, when the Toppers will run at Rice Lake.
GIRLS’ INDIVIDUAL RESULTS: 6. Emily Bethell 21:49.63, 18. Isabella Williams 22:59.79, 22. Gabrielle Moede 23:22.22, 24. Makayla O’Brien 23:24.90, 28. Megan Speiser 232:47.89, 39. Julia Dinkel 24:41.13, 40. Elizabeth Wink 24:41.55, 46. Myah Eliason 25:09.33, 63. Hanna Strehlo 26:25.83, 71. Annika Bauman 27:19.16, 88. Emma Scholler 29:17.95, 93. Alexis Swanepoel 30:09.00, Nyah Anderson 33:50.57.
GIRLS’ TEAM RESULTS: 1. New Richmond 39, 2. St. Croix Central 48, 3. Prescott 88, 4. Glenwood City 92, 5. Elk Mound 137, 6. Durand 205, 7. Somerset 206, 8. Boyceville 248, 9. Baldwin-Woodville 254, 10. Spring Valley 259, 11. Mondovi 350.
BOYS’ INDIVIDUAL RESULTS: 13. Jacob Nadeau 18:55.92, 35. Jabin Hojem 20:14.29, 48. Lane O’Meara 20:40.86, 52. Matthew O’Brien 20:47.69, 61. Elijah Simmons 21:12.47, 80. Bradley Kessler 22:14.80, 118. Henry Wallin 25:40.63, 123. Kyle Meyers 26:32.13.
BOYS’ TEAM RESULTS: 1. New Richmond 67, 2. Durand 82, 3. St. Croix Central 88, 4. Elk Mound 98, 5. Prescott 110, 6. Spring Valley 170, 7. Somerset 170, 8. Glenwood City 188, 9. Baldwin-Woodville 216, 10. Boyceville 256, 11. Mondovi 373.