Far left: The boys ran together for awhile at the Polar League championships held at Pincushion before Ben Seaton (leading) pulled away to finish 7th and earn all-conference honors. Behind Ben are Nate Carlson, Will Seaton, Drew Christiansen, and Everett Holmes. Left: Mara MacDonell is one of the Vikings’ most exuberant, dedicated runners. She placed 4th in the JV race at conference. Above: Morgan Weyrens-Welch had a good race at Pincushion, placing 15th in the girls varsity race.
Snowflakes fell and some records fell to the fleet-footed cross-country runners taking part in the Polar League cross country meet held at Pincushion Mountain in Grand Marais on Wednesday, October 10.
Once again Esko dominated the boys’ and girls’ races.
Led by 2010 state cross-country champion Marissa Shady, the Esko girls’ team scored 17 points. The top Viking girl was Sarissa Falk, who placed 6th behind four Esko runners and one Moose Lake/WR/Barnum runner.
Cook County finished second in the team standings, beating Moose Lake/Willow River/Barnum, Carlton, and Wrenshall.
Shady covered the 4-kilometer race in 14:25.8, a new record. Shady finished 51 seconds ahead of her teammate, Kailee Kiminski. Falk finished in 15:59, a personal best for her on this tough, hilly course.
Not far behind Falk was Abigale Seipke, who placed 11th in 17:07.2. A group of three Vikings—Sara Shied, 13th in 17:13.9; Maya McHugh, 14th in 17:14.5; and Morgan Weyrens-Welch, who placed 15th in 17:17.3—rounded out the Vikings’ top five. The Vikings’ sixth and seventh runners were Matea Acero in 18th place and Audrey Summers in 19th place. They ran 18:27 and 18:32.4.
If Esko’s girls were nearly perfect, their boys’ team was perfect, scoring 15 points. Ben Hanson led four teammates to the finish line with an excellent time of 17:16.
Ben Seaton ran the 5K course in 18:37.7 to finish 7th overall and lead the Viking boys’ team to a second place finish. Hot on his heels was Joey Chmelik, who was 8th with a time of 18:43.6. Pete Summers finished third on the team and placed 11th overall with a time of 19:37. Rounding out the Vikings’ top five runners was Sean MacDonell in 15th place in 20:08 and Nate Carlson, who placed 17th in 20:18.9. Rounding out the Vikings’ top seven runners were Will Seaton, who placed 19th in 20:36.8 and Levi Axtell who did not finish due to a foot injury.
Owen Cruikshank and Roman Schnobrich placed second and third in the boys’ junior varsity 5K race which Esko runner Jade DeVries won in 20:07.2. Owen ran 20:40.4 and Roman finished in 21:09.4.
Other Vikings with strong finishes were Collin Berglund, 10th in 21:55.5; Rusty Day, 12th in 22:04; Everett Hommes, 13th in 22:06.5; Drew Christiansen, 14th, 22:10.5; and August Carpenter, 15th, 23:35.6.
Meadow Adams placed third in the junior varsity girls’ 4K race with a time of 19:17.1. She led Mara MacDonell who placed 4th in 19:46.9 and Cailan Carpenter who was 5th in 21:11.4. Esko’s Olivia Rengo won the race in 18:26.4.
Dave Arnston of Esko set a new record for junior high boys in the 2.6K race with a time of 9:35.9. Jake Paron was the top boy runner for the Vikings. He finished in 6th place and ran 10:18.2. Finn Gary finished in 15th place in 11:54.4.
Emily Rish of Esko won the girls’ 2.6 junior high girls race with a great time of 10:27.9. This was also believed to be a new record. Alyssa Martinson finished 4th with a time of 11:02, while two other Viking runners, Julie Larsen, 15:42.7, and Daphne Lacina, 16:55.3, placed 15th and 16th.
Viking Head Coach April Wahlstrom said she was pleased with the strong running of the boys’ and girls’ teams. “We’re not peaking yet so we should get stronger,” Wahlstrom said.
Assistant Head Coach Chris Hegg said he was happy so many Viking runners set personal bests on the course and added, “It will be interesting to see how we do at the end of the season. Both the boys’ and girls’ teams are getting better each week.”
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