Despite running on the challenging Little Sioux Golf and Country Club course at Sioux Rapids, Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn’s cross country runners turned in some season-best performances at Sioux Central’s Chris Smith Invitational September 17.
“I’m happy with how our kids competed,” stated Hawk head coach Naet Hoaglund. “Sioux Rapids is one of the toughest courses we run in our season with the amount of hills it has. That was a good challenge for us and an opportunity for us to grow not only physically but mentally as well. You can kind of psych yourself out with a course like that but I was happy with how we focused on the things we could control.”
Hoaglund cited the top performances of several of his runners, saying, “We had five who ran their best times of the season: Kamryn Ebel on the girls side (24:20), Moises Gonzalez (JV 27:45), Easton Teal (19:54), Ryan Grotluschen (20:04) and Aiden Bush (19:00). Ryan and Easton have started to find their groove. They’ve been practicing really well and continue to push themselves in that regard. It’s been really fun to see their growth and I’m excited to see that continue.”
Ebel finished 21st and Gracie Knobloch was 44th. Brooklyn Erickson ran in the JV girls race where she placed 9th.
The boys race saw Aiden Bush finish 34th, Teal 46th, Grotluschen 48th, Damian Dodge 50th, James Carlin 59th, Blaine Finster 70th and Carter Dolphin 84th. HMS was 10th in the team competition, scoring 237 points. Spirit Lake earned a score of 50 to win the meet. In JV competition Karter Zimmer placed 32nd and Gonzalez was 36th.
Sioux Central and Ridge View were tied atop the varsity girls standings with 46 points apiece. The host Rebels were declared the winner because their sixth-place runner had a better finish than did the sixth-place runner from Ridge View.
Boys Varsity Team Results: Spirit Lake 58, Sheldon 71, Sibley-Ocheyedan 131, Sioux Central 132, Manson NW Webster 145, East Sac County 171, MVAOCOU 180, Ridge View 188, Alta-Aurelia 221, HMS 237, OABCIG 242, South Central Calhoun 269, South O’Brien 334, Newell-Fonda 355.
HMS Varsity Individual Results: Aiden Bush, 34th, 19:00.75; Easton Teal, 46th, 19:54.63; Ryan Grotluschen, 48th, 20:04.87; Damian Dodge, 50th, 20:22.11; James Carlin, 59th, 21:08.04; Blaine Finster, 70th, 21:44.70; Carter Dolphin, 84th, 24:18.57.
HMS JV Individual Results: Karter Zimmer, 32nd, 25:47.15; Moises Gonzalez, 36th, 27:45.95.
Girls Varsity Team Results: Sioux Central 46, Ridge View 46, South Central Calhoun 79, Alta-Aurelia 80, Manson NW Webster 109.
HMS Varsity Individual Results: Kamryn Ebel, 21st, 24:20.99; Gracie Knobloch, 44th, 29:57.46.
HMS JV Individual Results: Brooklyn Erickson, 9th, 31:47.01.