The NRHEG cross country team finished the 2014 season at the Section 2A meet at Blue Earth Thursday, Oct. 23.
The boys finished in a tie for 19th place with Medford, totaling 509 points. Martin County West won with 40 and Waseca was second at 51.
Things went about as expected for the boys, led by Tyler Schlaak in 66th place in 19:03.7. Following for NRHEG: Zach Mely, 92nd, 19:42.4; Josh Fleming, 109th, 20:16.1; Brenden McMann, 120th, 20:38.1; Ben Lewer, 122nd, 20:47.2; Aaron Seath, 137th, 23:42.
“Tyler has led our boys’ team from day one,” said Panthers coach Mike Weber. “Zach had a good section meet. Josh has been under the weather of late, but managed to maintain his position as our third runner.This year’s boys’ squad has no seniors.
The NRHEG girls, for the first time since early in the season, did not have a full squad. Waseca’s girls won with 46 points, Fairmont was second with 63.
For the Panthers: Sandra Quezada, 64th, 17:32; Missy Malakowsky, 93rd, 18:39; Katharine Lewer, 107th, 19:47; Marissa Mortenson, 108th, 19:48.
“Our captain, Sandra, had her best race of the season,” said Weber. “Her times came down spectacularly at the end of this season. This is how you run your final race your senior year. Sandra had an impressive race. Missy was also superb. Being a senior, it was great seeing Missy go out with her best race of the season. She was a minute faster than her previous best. Captain Katharine followed with a 15-second drop to better her time from last week. Marissa had her best race of the season. We were hoping she could run well, but she shattered her previous PR. The coaches were pleasantly surprised. On a whole, the team ran very, very well.”
The girls will lose two seniors, Quezada and Malakowsky.