Hoffman returns to state cross country meet

PROTECTED CONTENT

If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.

Username

Password

Login

Lost your password?

Username and Password Help

Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.

Email

Submit

← Back

by Renee Bettendorf

Sports Correspondent

CADOTT — Glenwood City junior Clayton Hoffman is headed to state for a second straight year after qualifying at the WIAA Division three sectional cross country meet held at Whispering Pines Golf Course in Cadott last Saturday, October 26.

Hoffman placed seventh out of 131 runners in the boys’ varsity 5K race with a time of 17:04.9.

“Clayton came into Saturday’s meet expecting to run for a qualifying spot. This year’s sectional had some different teams in the mix compared to the previous two years so the competition was more fierce for Clayton at the front of the pack,” said Glenwood City head cross country coach Matthew Schutz.

Hoffman will run at the WIAA Division three state cross country championship in Wisconsin Rapids on November 2. Race time is tentatively set for 2 p.m. At the state meet, he will face the top runners from the eight sectional meets.

“Placing seventh overall was a great finish since three runners ahead of him were from Phillips and Rib Lake. It was a dog fight between him and Chetek-Weyerhaeuser and Regis runners for the fourth and fifth qualifying spots to go to state. All three ran together for the final two miles.  Clayton said as long as he didn’t let them get ahead of him, we would be able to beat them coming into the finish line, which he proved to do. It was a hard fought race for Clayton which will actually be good for him when he competes at the state meet,” said Schutz of Hofman’s performance at teh sectional meet. 

The Hilltopper boys’ team placed fifth out of 16 teams scoring 153 points, missing out on fourth place by just one point to Chetek-Weyerhaeuser. Rib Lake/Prentice won with a score of 53, Phillips placed second with 58 points and Eau Claire Regis took third with 139 points. Gavin Esterholm of Phillips won the race with a time of 16:19.

“Phillips and Rib Lake, who happen to be ranked number one and number two as teams in division three, made it difficult for our team to compete for a qualifying spot. As a team, our goal was to finish at least third. Even though we finished fifth we were right in the mix for third,” said Schutz.

Senior Elliott Springborn was the team’s second runner. He placed 21st with a time of 18:10.2. Junior Garrett Gross came in third for the team placing 43rd with a time of 19:06.6.

“Unfortunately, Garrett Gross, who had consistently been running either just ahead or behind Elliott Springborn all season, struggled in the race with a stomach issue and was almost 20 places behind his teammate,” said Schutz.

According to Schutz, had Gross not been feeling under the weather, he would have placed right with Springborn and they would have earned the 14 points needed to make up the difference between third and fifth place.

Senior Ilan Anderson (46th) and sophomore Eli Oberle (47th) were fourth and fifth for the team coming in at 19:07 and 19:08. Senior Zeb Holden and junior Micah Simmons also ran at the meet placing 48th and 84th. 

The Hilltopper boys’ team beat Durand, Cadott, Immanuel Lutheran, Clear Lake, Boyceville, Mondovi, Fall Creek, Prairie Farm, Spring Valley, Augusta and Barron.

In the girls’ competition, Glenwood City had just two runners. They were sisters Aletta and Elsja Meijer. Aletta placed 53rd and

Elsja finished 63rd out of 98 runners with times of 23:54.8 and 24:21.3.

“I’m very proud of the whole team, boys and girls, for their performances and their hard work and dedication to the program this season. We will lose some great athletes to our program in seniors Elsja Meijer, Elliott Springborn, Zeb Holden, Ilan Anderson, and Evan Hojem,” said Schutz.

Glenwood City Girls’ Results

53. Aletta Meijer, 23:54.8; 63. Elsja Meijer, 24:21.3. 

Glenwood City Boys’ Results

7. Clayton Hoffman, 17:04.9; 21. Elliott Springborn, 18:10.2; 43. Garrett Gross, 19:05.6; 46. Ilan Anderson, 19:07; 47. Eli Oberle, 19:08; 48. Zeb Holden, 19:11.07; 84. Micah Simmons, 20:51.3.