Hawk harriers among many runners at Okoboji Invite
Cross country runners from nearly 20 schools converged on Arnolds Park August 31 for the Okoboji Cross Country Invitational. Athletes from Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn were among those competing at the meet, which was held on the grounds of the Emerald Hills Golf Club.
George Vargas was the top finisher for the Hawks. The senior placed 15th in the field of 73 runners. Then came a pair of juniors with Ryan Grotluschen finishing 30th and Aiden Bush 34th. Juniors Damian Dodge and Blaine Finster were 43rd and 50th, respectively. Moving up from JV to varsity this week was freshman Easton Teal who placed 68th.
HMS scored 145 points to finish sixth among the nine teams competing. Sioux Center won the Invite with a 37 total, edging out the host Pioneers who totaled 40 points.
Hawk senior Alexis Croatt out-dueled her teammate, junior Gracie Knobloch. Croatt finished 42nd and Knobloch 48th. They were followed by junior Kamryn Ebel, who placed 58th, senior Jocelyn Abonce, who was 60th, and sophomore Clara Funk, who finished 64th.
The HMS girls totaled 200 points, which left them last among the seven schools who had enough runners to compete as a team. Sioux Center’s girls posted a score of 29 to join the Warrior boys as team champs.
Running at the JV level were one girl and three boys. Freshman Kam Visser finished 62nd in the girls race. In boys competition, sophomore Carter Dolphin was 40th, freshman Parker Salton 41st and junior Moises Gonzalez 44th.
Girls Varsity Team Results: Sioux Center 29, Sioux Central 80, Okoboji 82, Cherokee 86, George-Little Rock/Central Lyon 96, Emmetsburg 147, HMS 200.
HMS Varsity Individual Results: Alexis Croatt, 42nd, 23:56.88, Gracie Knobloch, 48th, 25:01.97; Kamryn Ebel, 58th, 27:42.48; Jocelyn Abonce, 60th, 28:12.46; Clara Funk, 64th, 29:44.56.
HMS JV Individual Results: Kamrynn Visser, 62nd, 35:11.22.
Boys Varsity Team Results: Sioux Center 37, Okoboji 40, Sioux Central 91, Sibley-Ocheyedan 93, Cherokee 116, HMS 145, George-Little Rock/Central Lyon 186, West Lyon 191, South O’Brien 223.
HMS Varsity Individual Results: George Vargas, 15th, 18:20.25; Ryan Grotluschen, 30th, 19:47.08; Aiden Bush, 34th, 20:20.99; Damian Dodge, 43rd, 21:19.61; Blaine Finster, 50th, 21:32.69; Easton Teal, 68th, 23:18.05.
HMS JV Individual Results: Carter Dolphin, 40th, 26:41.79; Parker Salton, 41st, 27:21.28; Moises Gonzalez, 44th, 29:02.35