The NRHEG boys’ and girls’ cross country teams pulled double duty last week, running Tuesday and Blooming Prairie and Thursday at Janesville.
The boys were fifth among five schools at the JWP/WEM Invitational, totaling 130 points. Faribault won with 27.
For the Panthers: Tyler Schlaak, 21st, 19:18; Josh Fleming, 25th, 19:46; Zach Mely, 30th, 20:09; Brenden McMann, 43rd, 21:08; Ben Lewer, 47th, 21:34; Aaron Seath, 53rd, 22:58.
“Tyler Schlaak has been very consistent with his times over the past couple weeks,” said Panthers coach Mike Weber. “With a good effort, Josh closed the gap that Tyler has had over him this fall. Zach continues to run well. He had his best time of the season.”The boys were fifth out of eight squads at Blooming Prairie with 140 points. Mankato Loyola won with 52 and Blooming Prairie was second at 60.
For NRHEG: Schlaak, 20th, 19:10; Fleming, 27th, 19:58; Mely, 28th, 20:11; McMann, 34th, 20:56; Lewer, 42nd, 21:35; Seath, 52nd, 23:53.
“Tyler led us with his personal best this season,” said Weber. “Our second runner, Josh, is usually closer to Tyler’s heels, but Tyler had a very good race. Zach had the breakout performance on the boys’ side, running his best time. I was pleased with the team placing.”
The girls, who fielded a full team for the first time this season the previous week, again had five runners at Janesville and finished sixth out of six with 160 points. Faribault won with 52.
Individually for NRHEG: Sandra Quezada, 30th, 19:18; Katharine Lewer, 31st, 19:37; Missy Malakowsky, 35th, 19:55; Rayna Crosson, 51st, 21:28; Marissa Mortenson, 52nd, 21:32.
“All the girls ran in similar fashion to our previous meet in Blooming Prairie; everyone’s time had an identical increase,” said Coach Weber. “Janesville is a very hilly course, and we predicted times would rise. However, it was uncanny that everyone ran so similar to our last meet.”
The girls scored 156 points for seventh among eight teams at Blooming Prairie. Pine Island won with 51; JWP/WEM was second with 58.
For the Panthers: Quezada, 21st, 18:30; Lewer, 25th, 19:07; Malakowsky, 27th, 19:23; Mortenson, 47th, 20:54; Kristy Possin, 54th, 22:15.
“Sandra led the girls again, lowering her time impressively,” said Weber. “She is our first girl to run under the 19-minute mark this year in a 4000k race. Katharine ran her best of the season, as did Missy. Marissa beat her best by over a minute, and Possin was nearly a minute better than her best. With everyone having run their best, we couldn’t have asked for any better. The girls ran well.”