The Becker girls cross country team won the Granite Ridge Conference Championships at Pebble Creek Tuesday.
The boys finished fifth.
Girls Varsity
Cheresa Bouley from Zimmerman took first in the girls race (15:41.38). Becker’s Allison Hendrickson finished third in 15:46.48.
Becker had three all-conference team members plus two honorable mention all-conference members.
Rachel Eickhoff took second with a time of 15:44.38 for St. Cloud Cathedral, which finished third as a team.
“This was something this team has been working toward and really focusing on for several weeks,” said Head Coach Trish Reimer-Kealy. “Each of the seven runners on the team did their best to do what they needed to do to earn this honor. We are proud of how they come together with great team work and positive attitudes.”
Lexi Dehmer placed seventh (16:16.63). Senior Sydney Mastey proved her consistency once again as a team leader, placing 13th (16:47.82). Hendrickson, Dehmer and Mastey each earned all-conference.
Mastey has been all-conference three times and honorable mention twice.
Tate Spinner just missed all-conference, placing 16th (16:56.38 for a new PR) and was named honorable mention. Jada Rositas stepped up her run to place 20th and earn honorable mention as well. Her time of 17:08.66 was a PR for her, cutting 55 seconds off her previous best.
“Her drop in time was a big part of our team getting such a good score,” said Reimer-Kealy. “We were really anticipating a much closer score overall with Albany and Cathedral.”
Becker’s next runner was Makenna Noaiell, running solidly for 33rd (17:40.79) and Ellie Schwartz placing 35th (17:53.84).
“We are so excited for this group,” said the coach. “It is the first conference title since 2007.”
Team scores — 1. Becker 59; 2. Albany 82; 3. St. Cloud Cathedral 87; 4. Mora 94; 5. Little Falls 107; 6. Zimmerman 109; 7. Milaca 150; 8. Foley 214.
Boys Varsity
In the boys race, Little Falls’ Tyler Moore won with a time of 16:26.91. Noah Moravec took second (16:50.60) to lead Mora. Tyler Johnson finished fifth (17:03.41) to lead St. Cloud Cathedral.
Luke Lahr continues to be Becker’s #1 runner, placing third (16:57.77) to earn all -conference honors. He was honorable mention as a ninth grader and has been all-conference as a sophomore, junior and now as a senior.
“He and Sydney (Mastey) have been mainstays of our program since their junior high days and should be very proud to again earn all-conference honors multiple times,” said Reimer-Kealy. “That is not an easy feat.”
Lahr's PR time from this year is the fastest Becker boy's time the team has had since Jesse Babler in 1989.
Caleb Foster and Jonathan Novak put together good performances, placing 26th (18:28.35) and 28th (18:32.64) — pushing each other to the finish line. Olsen Pancoast came in 35th (19:09.97) running well. Sam Somrock raced well to gain 42nd (19:36.10), Keith Sorensen 48th (20:24.35) and Devin Winter 50th (20:36.43).
Team scores — 1. Mora 41; 2. Little Falls 73; 3. St. Cloud Cathedral 76; 4. Albany 100; 5. Becker 134; 6. Milaca 149; 7. Foley 178; 8. Zimmerman 186.
JV Results
The girls JV also won their meet.
“There were some very good races run by this JV girls team,” said Reimer-Kealy. “They continue to push the varsity girls which serves to improve all involved.”
Haley Benda had a strong kick to finish second (17:40.14) just ahead of Alli Garding in third (17:41.21) place. Both of those girls earned PRs for their efforts.
Not far behind were Renee Tripp in sixth (18:17.95) and Victoria Kolbinger in eighth (18:32.49). Shannon Sydow finished strong in 20th (19:29.7), Deedra Lawrence was 29th (20:09.97) and Michaela Allen 34th (20:32.72).
Kayden Westin and Jessica Sand were both injured and did not run.
The boys JV team placed seventh and their first runner was Lachlan Lahr, running his PR time of 22:23.35 for 66th place. Kyle Schroeder was 69th (22:28.23), Nathan Sydow 70th (22:28.23), Dylan Gruba 71st (22:28.44) and Logan Lahr 80th (24:07.93).
Junior High Results
The junior high girls team tool fourth place in the 3200 meter race.
Ashley May was ninth (15:19.30), Bryanna Edling 15th (15:41.39), Erika Miner 18th (16:09.83), Karly Kowalsky 28th (16:56.83), Laura Pancoast 36th (17:38.88) and Grace Wilhelm 43rd (18:48.06).
The boys were sixth as a team with Aaron Gregory taking 25th (13:46.3), Cris Rothfork 35th (14:17.21), Blake Soenneker 37th (14:22.67), Jake Nelson 42nd (14:49.92, Jimmy Hines 52nd (16:08.72) and Adrian Johnson 63rd (16:37.40)
Up Next
The varsity teams will travel to Alexandria's Arrowwood Resort Thursday for the Section 8AA meet.
