The Annandale girls cross country team came up just short of a state title at the 2017 Minnesota High School League state cross country championships Saturday, Nov. 4, at St. Olaf College in Northfield.
The Cardinals finished third out of the 16 teams in Class A, with freshman Emma Fashant leading the way with a 10th place finish, earning her All-State honors. The third-place finish got the girls team a trophy and a place on the podium.
Annandale was also third as a team at the 2016 state meet.
The Cards also had two members of the boys team compete at state.
"I was extremely pleased with the girls’ teams third-place finish," Annandale Head Coach Scott Massmann said. "Justin Heimkes and Christopher Groth both had amazing personal best times."
Massmann told the team that other coaches felt the Cardinals had little chance of reaching the podium this year.
"They thought we were the last option out of five teams to get on the podium," Fashant said. "We proved them wrong and it feels amazing."
This was the 10th year in a row that the girls qualified to compete at state. They earned the trip to state by taking the Section 5-1A championship Thursday, Oct. 26, in Mora.
"It was an awesome way to end a great season," Fashant said. "So many memories with awesome teammates."
According to Massmann, Fashant’s time of 19:07.6 was her career best, and 20 seconds faster than her first-place finish at sectionals.
"I could not believe the number of runners Emma passed," Massmann said. "In the second half of the race she passed a total of 22 runners."
Of those 22 runners she passed, 12 of them were in the final 800 meters of the race.
"Emma has lots of grit and heart," Massmann said.
Fashant ran at state as an eighth-grader last year and led Annandale by placing 28th, with a time of 19:51.6.
Four other Cardinals – Jessica Scheer, Emily Kasper, Keily Wheeler and Josey Marquette – ran very close together throughout the race and finished in 65th, 66th, 68th and 71st places, respectively.
"Watching them, it was like they were running a training run," Massmann said. "It was a good strategy and likely the reason we got third place."
Also running for the Cardinals Saturday were Briana Canesi and Avery Kenning. Madi Marohn and Mollie Schlafke attended the meet as alternate runners.
It was the fifth time Scheer and Kasper had run in the state meet, the fourth for Canesi, and the second state meet for Marquette, Marohn and Fashant.
Groth and Heimkes
The Annandale boys did not qualify as a team for the state meet. Only the top two teams coming out of Section 5-1A earned the trip to state, and they finished a close third.
Seniors Christopher Groth and Justin Heimkes did, however, qualify as individuals and both established personal best times.
Groth finished in 13th place and received all-state honors. Heimkes finished 37th out of 176 boys competing.
At the 2016 state race, Groth placed 35th.
"The meet was like a dream, too good to be true," Groth said. "Being able to race alongside my teammate, and have both of us run our career best times, was crazy."
Groth’s time of 16:25.7 put him in the top three of all-time Annandale runners at state. Nate Hoffman and Connor Gjevre are the only two who posted better times at the state meet.
Heimkes’ career-best time of 16:57.4, beating his previous personal record by 17 seconds.
"Justin ran a terrific race," Massmann said. "We had put him in the top 50 in the state race, but he surpassed our expectations with 37th place."
"State was an amazing experience, and I was so grateful to see so many fans and teammates who came down to Northfield to watch the race," Heimkes said. "I couldn’t think of a better way to have ended my cross country career."
Grateful
Assisting Massmann this year were assistant coaches Missy Fee, Katie Zuehlke and Adam Sparks.
"I’m so grateful to the coaches who have made me into the runner and person that I have become," Heimkes said.
"This was our last shot, and it was a great ending to our high school running careers here at Annandale," Groth said. "All of the credit goes to our families, friends, teammates and coaching staff, who have helped make this a reality."
"Our coaches deserve a lot of credit for how we performed at state and all season," Fashant said. "They strategize every race and make sure we are well prepared for the big races."
Fee honored
Assistant Coach Missy Fee was named the 2017 Section 5-1A Assistant Coach of the Year.
State Meet – 5K
State girls team scores: Perham 86, Cotter 87, Annandale 131, Stewartville 137, Fairmont 165, Luverne 203, Maple Lake 211, Minnehaha Academy 219, Jordan 238, Lac Qui Parle Valley 257, Belle Plaine 261, Eden Valley-Watkins 265, North Shore 266, Proctor 270, West Central 272, United North Central 347
State medalist: Tierney Wolfgram, 17:31.6
Annandale girls results: 10. Emma Fashant 19:07.6, 65. Jessica Scheer 20:15.3, 66. Emily Kasper 20:19.5, 68. Keily Wheeler 20:23.2, 71. Josey Marquette 20:25.5, 118. Briana Canesi 21:05.9, 135. Avery Kenning 21:28.5.
State boys team scores: Perham 118, St. James 148, Mankato Loyola 154, Lac Qui Parle Valley 172, North Shore 175, Jordan 184, Greenway-Nashau 195, West Central 220, La Crescent 223, Staples-Motley 229, Mora 247, Mounds Park Academy 251, Heritage Christian Academy 284, Mountain Lake 273, RAACHE 323, Ada-Bonrup-Norman County East 351.
Boys medalist: Matt Steiger, La Crescent 15:44.8.
Annandale boys results: 13. Groth 16:25.7. 37. Heimkes 16:57.4.