The Big Lake boys varsity cross country team battled with Becker at the Mississippi 8 Conference meet last week, with the Bulldogs coming out on top by one point.
After the 5000 meter course through Bertram Regional Park was done, Jack Leuer was the individual champ, finishing in 15:19, almost a minute ahead of second-place Tanner Felton of Becker (16:16.4).
Then it was time to watch everyone else at the finish. Big Lake’s next four point scorers were Gavin Flavin (seventh, 16:38.3), Judd Layton (eighth, 16:43.1), Theo Johnson (16th, 17:31.4) and Gavin Vold (22nd, 17:46.4).
Becker’s next four were Parker Spindler (fifth, 16:35.1), Alex Swanson (sixth, 16:35.4), Evan Hubbard (15th, 17:21.1) and Brandt Hemmelgarn (25th, 17:52.2).
The final tally showed Becker edging Big Lake, 53-54 for the conference title.
For Big Lake, Trent Erickson (24th, 17:52.1) and Eli Henning (32nd, 18:16.9) were the sixth and seventh finishers. For Becker it was Holden Hubbard (26th, 17:52.3) and Alexander Schermer (35th (18.23.4).
Varsity Girls
For the varsity girls, eighth-grader Greta Layton set a personal best time and crossed the line fourth overall in 19:07.9, leading the team to a seventh-place finish.
Campbell Slattery had her best time of the season and placed 12th in 20:26.9. Big Lake’s three other point scorers were middle-schoolers who set personal best times: Hazel Guldseth (42nd, 22:51.3), Elsie Jagusch (46th, 23:02.1) and Aubri Judge (49th, 23:46.9). Big Lake’s sixth and seventh finishers were Erin Kjellberg (50th, 23:51.6) and Clara Devine (53rd, 24:06.4).
Boys JV
The Hornets didn’t field a complete boys JV team. But Jack Schmidt won the individual title, crossing the finish line in 18:33.4, winning by 18 seconds.
Girls JV
Alayna Boe had the best finish for the Hornet JV girls, taking 31st in 28:25.70.
Junior High
In the boys junior high race, Logan Phillips took second in 12:37.5, leading the team to third place. Jamisen Nusbaum finished sixth in 13:01.1 as the other top 10 finisher for the Hornets.
Macey Lingle had the best finish for the junior high girls, taking 17th in 16:22.5.
The Hornet varsity runners competed in the Section 5AA Championship meet Thursday at Princeton to determine which runners and teams qualified for the state meet. Results next week.
