FIRST-PLACE PACE — NRHEG High School junior T.J. Schiltz captured the Gopher Valley Conference boys’ cross country championship last week. (Star Eagle photo by Chris Schlaak)
By DALE KUGATH
Sportswriter
SHERBURN – New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva junior T.J. Schiltz captured a Gopher/Valley Conference championship by topping the field at Sherburn Oct. 16.
That was the highlight for coach Mike Weber’s squads as both the boys and girls finished in ninth place.
The Panther boys stand 7-64 overall this season compared to an 11-58 mark for the girls.
Boys
Martin County West was the class of the boys’ field, topping eight other complete teams with a 40-point total. Mankato Loyola was a distant second with 80 points.
NRHEG, which finished 10th place with 244 points last season, moved up to ninth place with a 213 total this year.Schiltz is the 2012 Gopher/Valley Conference champion after covering the 5,000-meter course in 16:28.
“TJ took charge at about the three-quarter mile mark and never looked back,” said Weber. “He is really starting to focus now, and is on a mission each time he steps up to the starting line.”
Raece Johnson and Adam Anderson were the two and three runners for NRHEG. Johnson placed 45th in 20:24, while Anderson came in 48th in 20:46.
“Raece had a good charge the last half mile,” said Weber.
Dustin Burshem and Jarek Schendel rounded out the Panther scoring by finishing 60th and 64th respectively. Burhem covered the distance in 22:10, over two minutes ahead of his teammate.
“Dustin ran a pretty good first half and ended with a solid finish,” said Weber. “Jarek didn’t feel too well, but had his second-best run of the year.”
Girls
Katharine Lewer’s all-conference performance was the NRHEG girls’ highlight, but the Panthers were unable to escape the cellar.
United South Central edged MCW 50-43 to capture the conference title.
NRHEG, which scored 210 points in finishing eighth a year ago, placed ninth with 194 points this season.
Lewer ran her best time of the year for 4,000-meters to earn all-conference honors. She finished 14th overall in 16:55.
“Katharine was focused and really looked great from start to finish,” said Weber. “She was well deserving of the all-conference recognition today.”
Missy Malakowsky was number two for the Panthers and 31st overall, finishing in 18:17.
Crystal Olson and Sandra Quezada finished two steps apart to place 47th and 48th respectively. Olson’s 19:38 was three seconds ahead of Quezada.
“Crystal has been our most reliable and consistent runner all year,” said Weber.
Kristy Possin was the last scoring runner for NRHEG. She ran a 21:35 to place 55th in the race.
Marissa Mortenson and Tina Quezada also ran with the varsity. Mortenson finished 59th in 22:01, one place and 13 seconds ahead of Quezada.
“I don’t think our girls could have run much better as a team,” said Weber.
The Panthers will run today at Blue Earth in the Section 2A Meet. Both squads finished 17th last season.
Schiltz will be looking to improve on last year’s fifth-place finish in the section.
Gopher/Valley Conf.
Team scores (B): 1)-MCW 40, 2)-Loyola 80, 3)-Maple River 96, 4)-USC 106, 5)-Madelia/Truman 124, 6)-LCWM 130, 7)-Medford 174, 8)-Blooming Prairie 187, 9)-NRHEG 213, 10)-WEM/JWP incp.
NRHEG results: 1)-Schiltz 16:28, 45)-Johnson 20:24, 48)-Anderson 20:46, 60), Burshem 22:10, 64)-Schendel 24:31.
Team scores (G): 1)-USC 43, 2)-MCW 50, 3)-Loyola 70, 4)-Blooming Prairie 125, 5)-LCWM 141, 6)-WEM/JWP 142, 7)-Madelia/Truman 184, 8)-Maple River 189, 9)-NRHEG 194, 10)-Medford incp.
NRHEG results: 14)-Lewer 16:55, 31)-Malakowsky 18:17, 47)-C. Olson 19:38, 48)-S. Quezada 19:41, 55)-Possin 21:35, 59)-Mortenson 22:01, 60)-T. Quezada 22:14.
NEXT: Oct. 25 – Section 2A Meet at Blue Earth, 4 p.m.