By JIM LUTGENS
Publisher
Daniel Nydegger might not have needed to shave a whole 50 seconds from his previous season best to repeat as champion of the Blooming Prairie Invitational.
But he did it anyway.
Nydegger, an NRHEG junior, won the cross country meet for the second year in a row Thursday, Sept. 12, covering the course in 17:41.
It was the highlight of the meet on a day of highlights for the Panthers.
“The team had a great meet today,” said coach Miles Otstot.
The NHREG boys finished third with 64 points, behind Medford’s 50 and Maple River’s 51. Blooming Prairie had 75, Austin Pacelli 123.
Nydegger had two other Panthers join him in the top 10. Addison Deyle finished eighth in 19:27, Caden Riewer ninth in 19:41. Following for NRHEG: Tylar Malakowsky, 21st, 21:28; Conner Nelson, 26th, 22:28; Matthew Mueller, 29th, 23:42; Eric Arvis, 30th, 24:22; and Brady Schlaak, 37th, 34:26.
The NRHEG girls finished second to Pacelli’s 24 points with 63.3, followed by Blooming Prairie with 71, Maple River 86 and Medford 102.
For the Panthers: Micaela Vaale, third, 22:41; Torri Vaale, fifth, 24:00; Annabelle Petsinger, 10th, 24:39; and Olivia Kofstad, 16th, 28:51.
“Many different runners ran great races today despite the heat and humidity,” said Otstot.