By JIM LUTGENS
Publisher
With two all-conference runners and three others honorable mention, it was a successful Gopher Conference meet for the NRHEG High School cross country teams at Maple River Tuesday, Oct. 16.
The boys finished third with 80 points, behind first-place Medford with 33 and WEM/JWP 51. Blooming Prairie was fourth with 80 points, Maple River fifth with 111.
Daniel Nydegger returned from injury to lead the Panthers with a seventh-place finish, clocking 19:33. Joining him on the second team all-conference podium was Addison Deyle, who placed 11th with a time of 19:41, reaching his goal of breaking 20 minutes.
Caden Riewer followed with his best time of the season, 20:14, which placed him 16th and earned him all-conference honorable mention.
Following for the Panthers were Tylar Malakowsky, 24th, 20:47; Gavin Anderson, 25th, 25th, 22:00; and Eric Arvis, 25th, 22:02.
The girls were one runner shy of a full squad. WEM/JWP won the conference title with 23 points, followed by USC with 65, Maple River 67 and Blooming Prairie 76.
Jade Mely paced the Panthers, taking 16th in 22:54. Micaela Vaale was 18th in 24:39. Both received all-conference honorable mention. Mia Williams was 26th in 26:30, Tiara Malakowsky 39th in 30:01.
"Both the boys and girls had a very successful conference meet," said Panthers coach Miles Otstot.
The Panthers travel to Montgomery as Tri-City United hosts the Section 2A meet Thursday, Oct. 25.