The NRHEG High School cross country teams opened the 2014 season at the Stewartville Invitational Thursday, Aug. 28.
The boys finished 12th among 16 schools with 348 points. Jordan won with 65, followed by Lake City with 85, LaCrescent 92, Kasson-Mantorville 150, Pine Island 167, Rochester Home School 171, Byron 188, Zumbrota-Mazeppa/Kenyon Wanamingo 190, Winona Cotter 223, Blooming Prairie 239 and St. Charles 238. Kingsland, Lanesboro/Fillmore Central, Bangro and Austin Pacelli did not field full squads.
Junior first-year cross country runner Tyler Schlaak led the Panthers, finishing 50th with a time of 20:45.7 in a large field. Following for the Panther boys: Josh Fleming, 57th, 21:29; Brenden McMann, 71st, 22:11.1; Ben Lewer, 84th, 23:13.8; Zach Mely, 86th, 23:36.6; Aaron Seath, 96th, 27:52; Orin Mely, 99th, 29:34.4.“Tyler was our lead runner, placing just in the upper half of a large pack of runners in this big meet,” said Panthers coach Mike Weber. “Josh had a good race, and Brenden was a minute behind. Ben has shown great improvement from last year and looks to be a good varsity scorer for us.”
A familiar face led the NRHEG girls: Katharine Lewer. The junior finished 55th in 17:51, followed for the Panthers by Sandra Quezada, 84th, 19:13; Melissa Malakowsky, 87th, 19:34; and Marissa Mortenson, 110th, 22:39.
“It was a rainy day on a muddy course,” said Weber. “Kat fell a couple times, but she got up and kept going. She had an excellent race. Sandra also ran very well, taking off a minute and a half of time from last week. Not far behind was Missy with a solid race. Marissa did well for the conditions.”
According to Weber, injury will keep the girls from having a full squad for a couple weeks.
Lanesboro/Fillmore Central won the girls’ meet with 61 points. Following: Lake City 70, Schaeffer Academy 132, LaCrescent 136, Stewartville 168, Cannon Falls 194, Rochester Home 196, Jordan 197, Winona Cotter 211, Wabasha-Kellogg 222. The Panthers were one of six schools without a full squad.
The Panthers run Thursday, Sept. 4 at 4 p.m. at the Montgomery Golf Course.