By JIM LUTGENS
Editor/Publisher
With wind and 40-degree temperatures, NRHEG cross country coach Mike Weber could not help but wonder how his teams would respond in the Section 2A meet.
As Weber put it, “They showed up to run.”
The Panthers, who ran on the same course seven weeks earlier, showed marked improvement in the season-ending race at Montgomery Thursday, Oct. 29.
The boys totaled 593 points for 21st among 22 schools that scored. Two squads were incomplete. Glencoe-Silver Lake won with 103 points; Jordan was second at 126.
For the Panthers: Tyler Schlaak, 91st, 19:15.4; Zach Mely, 101st, 19:28.8; Ben Lewer, 124th, 20:47.3; Jorey Fischer, 136th, 21:29.6; Braden Routh, 141st, 22:15.7; Orin Mely, 144th, 22:32.3; Aaron Fleming, 145th, 22:32.4.“This is a good measuring stick to determine if runners have progressed during the season,” said Weber. “In comparison to our early meet on the same course, Tyler improved by a minute and 15 seconds. Zach’s time improved by a minute and 10 seconds. Ben improved by 15 seconds. Jorey improved by a whopping three minutes and 10 seconds. That is a huge time improvement. He really made great strides this season, and it is apparent in his times of late. Braden was our last scorer with an improvement of forty-five seconds. Orin had his best race, setting a PR and dropping over three minutes. Aaron was impressive with a nearly two-minute drop. It was a complete team effort.”
Weber said the team will miss seniors Schlaak, Zach Mely, Fischer and Seath.
“Tyler has had two great seasons, leading our runners a majority of the times,” said Weber. “Zach is a great leader and really embraced his role as captain this year. Jorey has been a rookie his senior year, but we are so glad he was with us. He improved immensely. Aaron has three years of service under his belt, starting his sophomore year alongside Zach. Aaron has been our most enthusiastic and effusive supporter of his teammates. It is a group very difficult to replace.”
It may have been the first time all season the NRHEG girls had the same lineup in consecutive meets as the squad was 20th among 23 schools with 583 points. Fairmont was first with 61, followed by Martin County West with 107.
For the Panthers: Jade Mely, 71st, 23:10.2; Katharine Lewer, 106th, 24:36.8; Mia Williams, 109th, 24:52.8; Marissa Mortenson, 125th, 27:37.7; Destiny Medrano, 127th, 27:56.7.
“It would have been wonderful if they had been our group all season, but I’m glad it came about for the last couple weeks,” said Weber. “As with the boys, we had a measuring stick from an early season run on the same golf course. Jade was our number one again with another PR. I’ve said this about Jade for most weeks this season, but she really made the most of this season. I’m thrilled with her success. Jade took over two minutes off her early season time. Katharine has been a great leader off the course, but she has also done so in each race. She also took off more than two minutes of time. Mia dropped her time by over a minute. Marissa did not have a time at the previous Montgomery meet, but from her first 5K run to now, she has taken nearly three minutes off. As with Marissa, Destiny had not run at Montgomery, but from her first 5K run until now she dropped two minutes of time.
Seniors Lewer and Mortenson will be missed.
“These two have put in six and four years, respectively,” said Weber. “Both are leaders and I couldn’t be happier with their final performances. They will not be easy to replace.”