by Joe Howell

 

Number 1 met number 2 in boy’s cross country at the Valley City Bill Jansen Meet on Saturday, Sept. 20.  New Town, led by twin brothers Jeremy and Justin Grinnell, won the boy’s title with 31 points, and second-rated Lisbon had their best race of the year and finished in a distant second with 71 points.

The Grinnells finished in a tie for first place, and Dakota Baker placed ninth to springboard New Town to their team championship.

Sydney Kraft of Rugby and Grand Forks Red River won the girl’s titles.

Lisbon placed two in the top ten and four in the top 20 as the Broncos and their coach Phil Martin were pleased with their effort, but left a little discouraged with the showing of New Town.  Coach Martin commented, “New Town’s other three runners had their best runs of the season.”

Jayce Seelig was a solid third with his time of 16:25.  All that separated Seelig from classmate and teammate Anthony Finstad’s fifth-place showing was Oliver Dauphinais of Four Winds fourth-place finish.  It was the second straight meet that Seelig and Finstad finished with times under 17:00 this season.  Finstad ran the 5000 meter course in 16:42.

Freshmen Connor Stotts and Donovan Williams placed 11th and 15th with their times of 17:30 and 17:43.

Junior Keanan Kopp continued his late-season surge with a 37th-place effort and a time of 18:34.

Trying to catch Kopp was 8th grader, Jacob Gallagher. Gallagher had a season best of 18:53 and a 44th-place finish.

Coach Phil Martin commented on the Bronco’s season thus far with only four weeks remaining on the schedule.

“Yup, fantastic run by the Broncos!  We had four runners in the top 15 and one would expect us to at least be close to New Town, but it was not close, as New Town placed five in the top 13.”  Running fans, that is impressive that two schools produced 8 out of the top 15 runners.

“We had a lot of personal records set at Valley City.  Jayce Seelig, Anthony Finstad, Connor Stotts, Donovan Williams, Jacob Gallagher, Erik Heitkamp, Patrick Olson, Kammy Larson, Whitney Toyne, and Josh Hinkemeyer stepped up big time.  Hinkemeyer will run at the boy’s varsity level for the first time at Fergus Falls.

We also had a seasonal best from Keanan Kopp as he continues to make great strides this season.”

“Larson has a real shot at earning All Region this season as she continues to improve from meet to meet.  Whitney has posted her three best times of the season in our last three meets, and we are hopeful that Savanna Sagvold will be back from the injured list.”

“Seelig and Finstad can run with anybody in the state.  They are having remarkable senior seasons.”

“Our freshmen, Williams and Stotts, continue to impress with their high work ethic in practice, and it shows with their success in our meets.”

Team Scores – 15 teams competing

Boys

1. New Town 31 2. Lisbon 71 3. Shanley-Oak Grove 93 4. Rugby 99 5. G. Forks Red River 150 Girls

1.  Wahpeton 61

2.  G. Forks Red River 97

3.  Valley City 112

4.  New Town 114

5.  Shanley-Oak Grove 117

11. Lisbon 379

Champ & Bronco placewinners & times – 5000 meters

1. Jeremy Grinnell, New Town

16:20

3. Jayce Seelig 16:25

5. Anthony Finstad 16:42

11. Connor Stotts 17:30

15. Donovan Williams 17:43

37. Keanan Kopp 18:34

44. Jacob Gallagher 18:53

65. Erik Heitkamp 19:42

67. Brandon Qual 19:43

90. Patrick Olson 21:22

105. Ethan Maudal 24:26

JV Boys – 4000 meters

10. Josh Hinkemeyer 15:15

Junior high boys – 3000 meters

No times available

18. Thomas Horgeshimer

24. Corwin Cavett

32. Blaine Johnson

Varsity girls – 4000 meters

1.   Kraft, Rugby

42. Kammy Larson 17:09

68. Whitney Toyne 19:07

88. Lynsee Langsdon 24:48