While some think cross country running is an individual sport, running as a team is the best way to win meets. Here the North Shore Storm girls’ team demonstrated what it means to run together. Staff photos/Brian Larsen
After weeks of racing through bad weather (cold, wet, muddy), the boys and girls caught a break and had a beautiful day to run for the 2019 Polar League Conference championships held at Pincushion Mountain on Thursday, October 10.
The North Shore boys’ cross country team placed five runners in the top 24 spots to claim the team title.
Leading all finishers was the Storm’s Brenden Seipke who crossed the finish line in 17:28, six seconds ahead of runner-up Noah Foster of Cromwell-Wright high school. Isaac Swanson placed third, Noah Smith seventh, Nate Bilben 11th, and Ian Thorpe 24th, to lead the North Shore boys’ team to first place in the meet.
When each team’s first five finishers’ places were added up, the Storm had 46, Cromwell-Wright 51, Carlton-Wrenshall 56, Moose Lake 77, Esko 113, and South Ridge 169.
The Vikings’ sixth and seventh runners were Kevin Viren, placing 25th and Henry Dearruda- Weaver, who finished 28th. All of the Storm’s seven runners broke 20 minutes on this very tough course.
The North Shore Storm boys’ cross country team was a happy group of runners after they learned that they had taken first place in the highly competitive Polar League cross country meet.
Girls’ varsity 5000-meter race
The girls’ varsity race was a nail biter, with South Ridge just beating the Storm 47-49.
Emaleigh Olesiak, an eighth-grader from Cromwell-Wright, won the girls’ title in a scorching 20:34, finishing more than half a minute ahead of second place Jillian Sadjak of South Ridge. Jillian’s father is Jeff Sadjak, a CCHS graduate athlete who played football for UMD.
Once again, sophomore Autumn Smith led the Storm with a fourth-place finish, crossing the line at 21:24. The Storm’s next four finishers were Cedar Gordon, who placed ninth in 21:53; Lamar Gordon took 11th in 21:53.9; Malin Anderson finished 12th in 22:15; Louise Ramberg was18th in 23:06; Kate Walsberg placed 21st in 23:55; and Abbie Crawford, 25th in 24:11.
Girls’ Junior Varsity 5000-meter race
Only two schools could field full teams, and the Storm took first place 25-32 over Moose Lake.
Anna Hay placed first in the girls’ JV race, finishing with a time of 23:29, beating Laya Daneleki of Moose Lake by nine seconds.
The Storm’s other finishers and places were Isabel Schottenbauer, fifth in 25:21; Laura Erickson, sixth in 25:21; Cecelia Chmelik, 10th in 26:44; Kylie Viren, 11th in 26:51; Robin Henrikson, 13th in 27:29; Bryn Fitzgerald- Wells, 16th in 28:22; Hazel Oberholtzer, 20th in 29:24; Ellen Callender, 21st in 29:24; Sidni Hendersen, 22nd in 29:54; Madison Christenson, 23rd in 30:12; Greta Roth, 24th in 30:12; Aurora Schelmeske, 25th in 30:13; Olivia Nesgoda, 26th in 30:14; Sari Smith, 27th in 30:14.7; Abbey Stoddard, 30th in 31:03; and Amanda Haveri, 36th in 36:15.
Boys’ junior varsity 5000-meter race
The North Shore Storm (31) placed second to Moose Lake-Willow River (26) in the boys’ junior varsity race.
Chance Hanel placed second with a time of 20:18. Chance finished 17 seconds behind Everett Fitzsimmons of Moose Lake.
JC Holman, 20:35, placed fourth; Tanner DeBoer was sixth in 20:41; Trenton Gomez placed 10th, 21:05; Tristen Surbaugh took 17th in 21:45; Gus Hahn finished 18th in 22:04; Pete Sutton placed 19th in 22:21; Kyler Hansen placed 20th in 22:22; Stirling Pollock placed 21st in 22:31; Danny Berka placed 22nd in 22:31.4. Jonah Schmidt finished 23rd in 22:31; Ben Obinger was 25th in 22:39; Silas Brandt finished 33rd in 26:11; Garrett Jones placed 34th in 26:52; Riley Tarver placed 35th in 28:24; and Ryan Bilben finished 36th in 28:26.
Middle school girls
The Storm placed first with 25 points to South Ridge’s 30 points in the girls’ junior high race.
North Shore Storm runner Trinity Giddings won the 2600-meter event with a time of 10:41.
Lexi Surbaugh placed third with a time of 11:11, and Jocelyn Carr was sixth in 11:40. Amery Oberg took 11th in 12:16 with Nadia Latvala finishing 19th at 13:32. Liv Hedstrom crossed the finish line in 23rd with a time of 14:05; Shawanda Everson took 24th with a time of 14:10; Allison Henschel placed 28th in 17:17, and Laibia Eiman finished 29th with a time of 19:37.
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