The girls and boys cross country teams headed to Pierz on Monday, Sept. 21, for the Pierz Pioneer Stampede Cross Country Meet at the Pierz Golf Course. The girls took first place and the boys were third.
On Thursday, Sept. 24, the team traveled to Cold Spring for the Rocori Invitational at the River Oaks Golf Course, where the girls took second and boys took fourth.
Girls first at Pierz
The Annandale girls took first place out of 11 teams, despite missing varsity runners and co-captains Hannah Groth and Elizabeth Schlafke. Groth and Schlafke received permission from head coach Scott Massmann to miss the meet so they would be able to attend the Homecoming coronation that night.
"I think the homecoming activities are very fun, but they are distracting for the athletes," said Schlafke. "The whole time during Sunday’s powderpuff game I was trying not to get hurt because that would wreck my cross country season.
"Homecoming with all the activities is a lot of fun," said co-captain Hannah Groth. "But is was hard having two races on top of the Homecoming events."
The Annandale girls JV team also took home second-place honors. Molly Schlafke was Annandale’s top runner, coming in first with a time of 23:01 on the 5K course.
The middle school girls took second place out of nine schools, right after Brainerd. Emma Fashand was Annandale’s top runner, finishing in first place with a time of 14:00.6 on the 2.5K course.
Pierz results
5,000 meters
Varsity girls team scores
1. Annandale 52; 2. Pine City 83; 3. Mora 91; 4. Maple Lake 110; 5. Brainerd 112; 6. Eden Valley-Watkins-Kimball 144; 7. Albany 148; 8. St. Cloud Cathedral 183; 9. Osakis 216; 10. Royalton 287; 11. Little Falls 329.
Varsity girls best individual time: 1. Anna Donnay, Eden Valley-Watkins-Kimball, 18:28.0
Annandale varsity girls results: 6. Jessica Scheer 20:56.9; 10. Emily Kasper 21:26.5; 11. Briana Canesi 21:26.2; 12. Katya Sparboe 21:26.8; 13. Gabby Ward 21:29.0; 20. Jordyne Broich 22:20.1; 23. Holly Ekholm 22:37.6
Boys third at Pierz
The Cardinal boys took third place out of 15 teams competing. Christopher Groth had the best Annandale time on the 5,000 meter course with a time of 17:39.5.
Seniors and co-captains Jamie Kasper and Hunter Norgren did not race at Pierz so they would be able to attend the Homecoming coronation that Monday night.
The junior varsity boys team finished in fourth place out of 12 teams behind Brainerd, Mora and St. Cloud Cathedral. Cardinal Jackpine Kappes had the best time for Annandale, 20.24.0, and finished in 17th place. The top junior varsity score was set by Matt Majerle, Brainerd, with a time of 18:57.2.
The middle school boys finished in sixth place out of 14 teams competing. Cam Edmonson had the best Cardinal time of 13:13 on the 2,500-meter course. Top middle school time was Carter Grove, Osakis with a time of 11:59.5.
Pierz results
5,000 meters
Varsity boys team scores: 1. Mora 16; 2. Brainerd 87; 3. Annandale 91; 4. St. Cloud Cathedral 155; 5. St. Cloud Christian 183; 6. Foley 198; 7. Maple Lake 198; 8. Milaca 210; 9. Albany 221; 10. Pine City 222; 11. Braham Area; 12. Zimmerman 13. Osakis 300; 14. St. John’s Prep 329; 15. Eden Valley-Watkins-Kimball 425
Varsity boys best individual time: 1. Michael Schwinghamer, Mora 16:52.1
Annandale varsity boys results: 8. Christopher Groth 17:35.5; 11. Zach Boos 17:47.1; 12. Jeffery Braun 18:15.9; 18. Justin Heimkes, 18:38.9; 42. Jack Massmann; 59. Isaac Millner 20:26.0; 67. Levi Neuenschwander 20:31.1
Girls second at Rocori
The girls finished in second place at the Rocori Invitational on Thursday, Sept 24.
"Coach Massmann told everyone where he wanted us in the race and we all did just that," Schlafke said. "It was great racing weather and the times were very good."
"The race was a nice course, pretty flat with a few hills," Groth said. "It seems like everyone is improving every race."
"I think the athletes ran well," said Jamie Schlafke (Elizabeth’s mother). "For most of the team, this was their second race this week and despite that seemed strong.
"Lizzie looked like she had a strong finish. She started out fast and competed in most of the race with two other competitors.
"I believe it was the last 300 to 400 yards, she pulled ahead and finished strong on an incline."
The junior varsity girls team finished in second place also. Holly Ekholm had the best Cardinal time with 22:19, finishing seventh. The best junior varsity time was set by Emily Malmgren 21:14.
The middle school girls finished in fifth place. Fashnat had the best Cardinal time of 13:20, finishing the race in second place. The best middle school time for the girls was Aleah Miller, Alexandria, 12:47.
Rocori results
5,000 meters
Varsity girls team scores
1. Willmar 37; 2. Annandale 64; 3. Alexandria 76; 4. Rocori 83; 5. Cambridge Isanti 117; 6. Little Falls 168; 7. St. Cloud Apollo 192
Varsity girls best individual time: 1. Bethany Hasz, Alexandria 18:16
Annandale varsity girls results: 2. Elizabeth Schlafke 19:51; Emily Kasper 20:36; Jessica Scheer 20:48; 16. Katya Sparboe; 20. Briana Canesi 21:16; 21. Gabrielle Ward 21:18; 24. Hannah Groth 21:52
Boys fourth at Rocori
The Cardinal boys finished fourth out of eight teams competing at the 2015 Rocori Invitational Thursday, Sept. 24.
"We had a pretty good race," said senior co-captain Hunter Norgren. "All the other teams were 2A, so it was nice to take fourth as a team. "Jamie (Kasper) led our pack in the beginning to get us out in the race where we needed to be. "Jamie, Justin (Heimkes) and Jack Massmann had their personal bests for the year at this race."
Groth had the top Annandale time of 17:52, and finished 14th in the field overall.
The junior varsity boys finished in fourth place out of eight teams. Payton Lund had the best Annandale time of 19:22, finishing in eighth place. The top junior varsity boys time was 18:37 by Logan Klinzman, Monticello.
Annandale’s middle school boys finished in seventh place out of 10 schools competing. Haddyn Hoffenkamp had the best Cardinal time, finishing 20th. Times were not available for the junior high boys.
Rocori results
5,000 meters
Varsity boys team scores: 1. Rocori 34; 2. Little Falls 67; 3. Alexandria 82; 4. Annandale 97; 5. Willmar 102; 6. Cambridge-Isanti 112; 7. Sauk Rapids 193; 8. Apollo 246
Varsity boys best individual time: 1. Tyler Moore, Little Falls, 16:51
Annandale varsity boys results: 14. Christopher Groth 17:52; 15. Zach Boos 17:54; 19. Jamie Kasper 18:05; 23. Hunter Norgren 18:17; 26. Jeffery Braun 18:28; 27. Justin Heimkes 18:29
Up next
■ On Tuesday, Sept. 29, the Cards travel to Cokato for a 4 p.m. invitational at Collinwood Park.