NRHEG cross country
DOWNHILL RUN — The Panthers’ Katharine Lewer leads a pack of runners at the Maple River Invitational last week. Lewer finished 12th overall. NRHEG’s T.J. Schiltz won the boys’ division. (Star Eagle photo by Chris Schlaak)
By DALE KUGATH
Sportswriter
MAPLETON – New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva sophomore T.J. Schiltz provided the highlight reel for the Panther cross country teams at the Maple River Invitational in Mapleton last Thursday.
The Panther boys had just three runners compete for an incomplete score. There were seven complete teams in the race.
The NRHEG girls finished with 175 points, placing eighth among eight complete teams.
A year ago, both Panther squads placed ninth among 11 teams.
The NRHEG boys are still searching for a full team, while the girls have an overall mark of 8-29 this fall.
Boys
Maple River captured its own invitational, edging United South Central by one point for the boys’ championship. Le Sueur-Henderson and Madelia/Truman tied for third place.
T.J. Schiltz took one minute off of last year’s time to win the 5,000-meter race in 16:42.
“T.J. ran a good race to beat a couple of excellent runners from Madelia/Truman. He made some adjustments on the run, but it worked out,” said NRHEG coach Mike Weber. “T.J. has really improved in every aspect from the runner he was a year ago.”Adam Johnson was the second runner across the finish line for NRHEG, running a 21:24. That earned Anderson the 36th position in the race.
“Adam is still getting used to running varsity,” said Weber. “He is getting better with each race.”
Raece Johnson was the final Panther runner, placing 45th in 21:53.
“Raece battled some injury and sickness, but still had the same time as last week,” said Weber. “When he gets good and healthy, we expect his times to drop.”
Girls
The ISC girls ran away with the team championship of the Maple River Invite, scoring 23 points for an easy win. The Waterville-Elysian-Morristown/Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton Grizzlies were a distant second with 71 points. The Panther girls had 175 points in eighth place.
Katharine Lewer was the top finisher for NRHEG. She finished 12th overall in 17:55. Lewer made the award stand and took 20 seconds off from a week ago.
Crystal Olson and Sandra Quezada were the second and third NRHEG runners. Olson placed 39th in 20:35 and Quezada finished 42nd in 20:59.
“Crystal has been our most consistent runner to start the season,” said Weber. “Sandra is one of our hardest workers and it shows in the meets.”
The final four Panther runners captured the 47th through 50th spots. Taya Olson covered the course in 23:13, Tina Quezada ran a 23:14, Kristy Possin finished in 23:15 and Marissa Mortenson was timed in 23:22. Possin and Mortenson were running their first varsity meet.
NRHEG will be at Blooming Prairie for a meet this afternoon.
The Panthers run at Prairie Ridge Golf Course in Janesville next Thursday.
Maple River Invitational
Boys team scores: 1)-Maple River 49, 2)-USC 50, 3)-Le Sueur 79, 4)-Madelia/Truman 79, 5)-Blue Earth 119, 6)-Medford 136, 7)-Sibley East 166, 8)-NRHEG & WEM/JWP incp.
Winner (5000-meters) – TJ Schiltz (NRHEG) 16:42.
NRHEG: 1)-Schiltz 16:42, 36)-Anderson 21:24, 45)-Johnson 21:53.
Girls team scores: 1)-USC 23, 2)-WEM/JWP 71, 3)-MVL 85, 4)-Blue Earth 96, 5)-Madelia/Truman 125, 6)-Sibley East 139, 7)-Le Sueur 161, 8)-NRHEG 175.
NRHEG: 12)-Lewer 17:55, 39)-C. Olson 20:35, 42)-S. Quezada 20:59, 47)-T. Olson 23:13, 48)-T. Quezada 23:14, 49)-Possin 23:15, 50)-Mortenson 23:22.
NEXT: Tuesday-NRHEG at Blooming Prairie, 4:30 p.m.