Bucs, Knights open cross country season

By Sam Peterson

Stevens County Times

After two weeks of practicing, the Border West and West Central Area boys and girls cross country teams finally kicked off the season at the Marv Meyer Invitational in Morris Aug. 31. Karissa Anderson picked up right where she left off for the Bucs, winning the girls varsity meet by more than 40 seconds. 

In the girls competition, WCA finished in second place with 43 points and Lac qui Parle Valley/Dawson-Boyd won the meet with 32 points. 

Sophia Jannette led the Knights in third place with a time of 21:47. Harper Anderson came in 13th with 24:49, Jenna St. Martin was on her hip in 14th. Skylar LaRue’s time of 25:35 put her in 17th and Natalea Olson was five seconds behind in 18th. Cassidy Reuter finished 21st and Kyra Beyer came in 28th.

The Bucs did not compete as a team in the girls varsity meet, but Anderson was 46 seconds clear of second place, winning the meet with a flat time of 20:00. Rae Wiegman was the only other Buc competing and she finished 33rd with 30:03.

The WCA boys finished second as a team with 55 points, five points behind Melrose. 

Gauge Eide led the Knights, finishing in second place with 18:36, 11 seconds behind the winner. Kyler Kastner and Michael Girard also cracked the top-10, finishing sixth and seventh, respectively. Turner Carlson was 16th with 20:36 and Tayven Franken was 36th.

Border West did not compete as a team in the boys meet, but did have three runners competing. Nolan Findlay led the way for the Bucs in 27th with 21:30. Braulio Chapa came in 34th and Carter Fickes finished 43rd.

The Bucs competed in the Johanna Olson Cross Country Meet in Wadena Sept. 8 and will be at The Bank Invitational in Milbank, SD Saturday, Sept. 12. Next on the schedule for the Knights will be in Holdingford on Thursday, September 10.

Boys Team Scores – (1) Melrose 50 (2) WCA 55 (3) Minnewaska 67 (4) LqPV 73 (5) Osakis 107

WCA individual results – (2) Gauge Eide 18:36.0; (6) Kyler Kastner 19:28.0; (7) Michael Girard 19:35.0; (16) Turner Carlson 20:36.0; (36) Tayven Franken 22:48.1

Border West individual results – (27) Nolan Findlay 21:30.0; (34) Braulio Chapa 22:36.0; (43) Carter Fickes 25:25.0

Girls Team Scores – (1) LqPV/DB 32 (2) WCA 43 (3) Melrose 57 (4) Osakis 92

WCA individual results – (3) Sophia Jannette 21:47.0; (13) Harper Anderson 24:29.0; (14) Jenna St. Martin 25:05.0; (17) Skylar LaRue 25:35.0; (18) Natalea Olson 25:40.0; (21) Cassidy Reuter 26:39.0; (28) Kyra Beyer 27:38.0

Border West individual results – (1) Karissa Anderson 20:00.0; (33) Rae Wiegman 30:03.0