×

TOP FIVE

-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Aubrey Bemrich of St. Edmond compete in the girls 5k run during Humboldt Invitational on Monday at Sheldon Park

HUMBOLDT — Mike Szalat put his St. Edmond cross country runners through tough workouts recently for a performance like they had here Monday night.

The Gael girls finished third overall and the boys were fourth at the Humboldt Invitational, with Jed Tracy and Aubrey Bemrich each earning Top-10 individual finishes.

“We’ve had a tough couple weeks of practice,” Szalat said. “I think the girls, especially, were frustrated with the workouts and practices that Coach (Monica) Shelly and I were putting them through. But by listening to us, and trusting us, it paid off in a big way with a great meet like this.

“This was the first time in many, many years that we beat Humboldt, and when you beat a team and program the quality of Humboldt, it takes a total team effort.”

Bemrich led the way with a ninth place showing, with Aleksandria Aljets finishing in 14th. Anna Kolacia was 32nd and Caroline Shelly placed 41st.

“Sydney might have had the best race of her career,” Szalat said. “She stepped up big for us, as did the rest of the team. It took all seven to do their job and I am just really happy with the girls.

“They ran smart races, picked people off as they moved along and I think really gained a lot of confidence.”

Maddie Moline ran right there with some of the top girls in the state, as the Manson Northwest Webster standout was fourth overall. Algona’s Carley Mullins finished seventh with Emmetsburg’s Gabrielle Janssen 15th and Pocahontas Area’s Carly Janssen 16th.

Eagle Grove’s Megan Schaefer and Lea Friedl were 24th and 25th overall.

St. Edmond finished with 128 points as Humboldt was the overall winner followed by Fort Dodge. The Gaels had four runners place in the Top-27 led by Tracy’s sixth.

“Jed ran a really smart race,” Szalat said. “He had a better time than he did here last year.”

Aaron Lursen was 21st overall, Grant Heldorfer was 23rd and Hayden Mayer placed 27th.

“Again, just like the girls, it was a total team effort to place fourth,” Szalat said. “Our sixth and seventh runners were beating other teams’ No. 5 runners and that made the difference.

“We finished right behind Ogden, who is ranked 10th, and I thought this was a good time to run against them and find out where we are at.”

Algona’s Ryan Stundahl was fifth with Bishop Garrigan’s Joe Meis placing 18th and Clarion-Goldfield/Dows’ Isaiah Nebbe finishing in 19th. Brandon Steil was 20th.

Jon Koester led Eagle Grove, crossing home in 29th with Emmetsburg’s Isaac Janssen right behind in 30th. Pocahontas Area’s Chris Meyer was 37th and Manson Northwest Webster’s Jose Lachelt finished 40th.

St. Edmond returns to action next Monday at the Algona Invitational.

HUMBOLDT INVITATIONAL

Team Standings

Boys

1. Humboldt, 41; 2. Fort Dodge, 108; 3. Ogden, 127; 4. St. Edmond, 128; 5. Clear Lake, 132; 6. Eagle Grove, 173; 7. Algona, 177; 8. Garner-Hayfield/Ventura, 254; 9. Pocahontas Area, 262; 10. Iowa Falls-Alden, 274; 11. Boone, 292; 12. Manson Northwest Webster, 320; 13. Bishop Garrigan, 333; 14. Clarion-Goldfield/Dows, 368; 15. Emmetsburg, 390; 16. West Bend-Mallard, 421; 17. Hampton-Dumont, 444; 18. West Hancock, 526.

Individual Top-5

1. Quinton Orr, Humboldt; 2. Justin Wright, Clear Lake; 3. Stephen Flynn, Ogden; 4. Devon Coon, Humboldt; 5. Ryan Stundahl, Algona.

Girls

Team Standings

1. Gilbert, 82; 2. Woodbury Central, 88; 3. St. Edmond, 137; 4. Iowa Falls-Alden/AGWSR, 143; 5. Emmetsburg, 144; 6. Humboldt, 145; 7. Algona, 151; 8. Manson Northwest Webster, 162; 9. Pocahontas Area, 195; 10. Clear Lake, 333; 11. Garner-Hayfield/Ventura, 335; 12. West Hancock, 344; 13. Ogden, 350; 14. Clarion-Goldfield/Dows, 357; 15. Fort Dodge, 396; 16. Boone, 419; 17. Hampton-Dumont, 451.

Individual Top-5

1. Ellie Meyer, Iowa Falls-Alden/AGWSR; 2. Bryce Gidel, Humboldt; 3. Abby Christians, Garner-Hayfield/Ventura; 4. Maddie Moline, Manson Northwest Webster; 5. Sophie Vanderpool, Gilbert.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today