It was another beautiful evening for a cross country meet, and the NRHEG Panthers responded with one of their best performances of the year.
The Panthers posted a plethora of personal bests in the Section 2A meet last Thursday at Riverside Country Club in Blue Earth, where the NRHEG boys finished 15th and the girls 14th.
Daniel Nydegger, a junior, was the Panthers’ top placewinner, finishing 23rd with a time of 17:40.
“He finished his race with a fantastic kick, and achieved his goal of breaking 18 minutes,” said coach Miles Otstot.
Following for the NRHEG boys were Addison Deyle, 72nd, 19:23; Caden Riewer, 89th, 19:50; Tylar Malakowsky, 91st, 19:51; Conner Nelson, 108th, 20:58; Matthew Mueller, 114th, 21:34; and Gavin Anderson, 115th, 21:37.
Mueller cut 50 seconds off his personal best and a minute and a half off his previous race. Deyle’s time was his best of the season. Nelson achieved a personal goal to break 21 minutes.
The top two teams and top five individual placewinners advanced to state.
Senior Micaela Vaale led the NRHEG girls, taking 43rd in 22:11, with her sister Torri in 49th in 22:26. Others: Annabelle Petsinger, 61st, 23:05; Olivia Kofstad, 98th, 25:59; and Mia Williams, 111th, 27:45.
Torri Vaale and Petsinger posted personal-best times.
“Overall, this was a great way to cap the season,” said Otstot. “Lots of runners achieved their personal goals, and most of those who didn’t hit their goal tonight did at our conference meet last week. These runners have worked hard this season and it has shown in their improvement.”