LEADERS — T.J. Schiltz, top, placed third among the boys in last week’s Panther Invitational. Below, the Panthers’ Shantaya Olson and Katherine Lewer run at the start of the girls’ race. (Star Eagle photos by Chris Schlaak)
By JIM LUTGENS
Editor/Publisher
The NRHEG cross country teams hosted their Annual Panther Invitational at Riverview Golf Course last Tuesday.
The girls were fifth and the boys six among eight schools.
The Grizzlies (JWP/WEM) won the girls’ meet with 48 points, followed by Madelia/Truman with 59, Blooming Prairie 71, Mankato Loyola 73, NRHEG 106 and Medford 108.
Individually for NRHEG: Katherine Lewer, ninth, 18:05; Melissa Malakowsky, 25th, 19:24; Shantaya Olson, 27th, 19:26; Crystal Olson, 32nd, 21:05; Destinee Meyer, 37th, 22:46; Megan Conley, 41st, 24:17.
“As a team, we were quite happy with fifth place,” said coach Mike Weber. “Katharine ran a strong race and ended up with a medal. Melissa followed, and we hope we can get her to run times closer to Katharine. She has not run her best yet and we think she can get there this season. Shantaya was a couple seconds behind Missy and is looking more to form she had last season. Crystal continues to run steady, but has taken time off. She had a good finish to beat a girl towards the end. Destinee has now had two pretty good races in a row. Megan’s time was decent.”
Madelia/Truman won the boys’ meet with 72 points. Following were Maple River 54, Grizzlies 102, Loyola 104, Blooming Prairie 115, NRHEG 131, Medford 141 and Austin Pacelli 151.
T.J. Schiltz led the Panthers, taking third in 17:19. Others: Jade Waltz, 23rd, 20:15; Raece Johnson, 38th, 22:17; Tyler Holz, 43rd, 23:33; Dustin Burshem, 47th, 23:35; Gunther Olson, 47th, 24:28; and C.J. Schiltz, 50th, 25:51.
“T.J. was hoping to get one of M/T’s top dogs today,” said Weber. “T.J. spoiled their bid to win places 1-4 by placing third behind two very good runners we will be seeing again. We hope to catch one, if not two runners, by season’s end. Jade had a very respectable finish and has been running harder the last races. Raece’s time was maybe higher than he wanted, but the wind took some of the starch out of him. Tyler ran well in front of the home crowd with a good race, running alongside of Dustin throughout. Dustin is feeling better. Gunther had his first varsity race and did quite good, and not too far behind was C.J.”
The CC teams ran Tuesday at Blooming Prairie. They’re at Janesville Thursday, Sept. 29.
