Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Algona’s Samuel Till and Joseph Ricklefs, (front row, left to right), as well as Breckin Borchardt and Peyton Sulentic (back row, left to right) show their support to Algona police officer Kevin Cram, who was killed in the line of duty last week. For more photos, visit CU.messengernews.net

HUMBOLDT — If a “crowd favorite” existed at Monday’s Humboldt Invitational cross country meet, the Algona boys were it.

The Bulldogs were victorious in the team race five days after the tragic death of Algona police officer Kevin Cram. The athletes from AHS paid tribute to Cram and his family in a multitude ways both before and after the event, wearing blue ribbons and displaying a thin blue line American flag together.

“I’m really happy for them, because it’s obviously been a very difficult week in the Algona community,” said St. Edmond head coach Mike Szalat, who saw his Gaels place second. “I think we were all rooting for them and will continue to do so. This is when sports take on a different meaning, both in not worrying as much (about the end result) and seeing how we can use (a meet) to rally around a town in our area that we compete against on a regular basis.”

Szalat’s squad joined Joe Jackson’s Fort Dodge Dodgers and many other programs in fundraising efforts for Cram’s family. Any time drops at Joe Sheldon Park counted as donated money to the Cram family memorial fund.

“It’s definitely important to make sure you not only make your program aware, but figure out how they are able to help when a tragic, unfortunate thing happens like this,” Jackson said. “This is just a devastating situation, so it was important for our kids to have awareness and contribute (to the fundraiser).”

Gael sophomore Anthony Valles gave another impressive performance, clinching individual gold in 18:08.46. FDSH senior Michael Wagner (18:26.26) was the runner-up.

Junior Liam Shannon of St. Edmond took fourth (19:00.27), while Algona senior Jace Mortensen (19:02.59) rounded out the Top-5.

The rest of the Top-10 also came from the area, with Thatcher Oswald of Manson Northwest Webster (sixth, 19:07.00), Algona’s Isaac Wilson (seventh, 19:22.33), Gavyn Morphew of North Union (eighth, 19:31.57), Omarion Myers-Zimmermann of Fort Dodge (ninth, 19:36.10) and Eagle Grove’s Noah Thul (19:36.71) next in line.

“I had a feeling, based on the research I’d done before the race, that Anthony could win,” Szalat said. “This is his first overall (victory)…he (was first in) our division at Webster City (last month), but taking it to a different level here was great to see. He got the lead and stuck with it.

“He’s just a sophomore, but he’s really taken off since last spring and put the miles in to get better over the summer.”

Wagner had his career-best varsity placing with a silver effort.

“He did a great job,” Jackson said. “Michael didn’t get out too quickly, and really kicked it into gear in the second mile, going from 10th to second. Then he maintained it.

“This is terrific for his confidence, as well as Omar and all of our other runners. It’s great to see their hard work and progress rewarded.”

Szalat added Shannon “had his best varsity race.”

“When Liam runs like this, you really start to see how talented he is,” Szalat said. “Levi (Odor-Westrum, who was 16th) is starting to get into a rhythm as a first-year runner, and Thomas (Cosgrove, who placed 20th) gutted it out after losing a shoe (mid-race).”

Shawn Roberts was 18th for the Dodgers in 20:17.70. Gabe Thumma (15th, 20:06.34) paced host Humboldt.

Barrett Morgan (12th, 19:46.73) and Joseph Ricklefs (14th, 20:02.62) followed Mortensen and Wilson for the champion Bulldogs.

Eagle Grove’s Hunter Waldo-Martinez was a silver medalist in the junior varsity race (21:45.08). Zach Duckert of Algona took third (21:51.82), Humboldt’s Scranton Sterling was fourth (22:09.08), and Gael Erik Larson finished sixth (22:25.80).

Both Fort Dodge and St. Edmond are back in action on Monday at Algona.