Trisha Kealy returns for her 16th year as coach of the girls cross country team. She says she enjoys sharing the experiences with the kids and every year is different but each year the kids bring so much personality and enthusiasm. 

“It is exciting to see the kids challenge themselves and learn how tough they can be,” she says.  “Relationships formed can last lifetimes.”

Kealy has 25 girls on the roster and her assistant coaches are Kayden Westin and Callie Doucette.

“I am really excited to have them on board, they bring a lot of enthusiasm and the kids enjoy having them with us as well,” said Kealy. 

Kealy also has her two managers back from last year in  Chloe Setrum and Abi Berning. 

“They are a great help!”

Kealy’s captains are seniors Megan Gregory, Abby Nelson and Jaden Kraus. 

“They are all veteran team members and are working very hard to help all of their team mates,” she says. “We have several girls returning from our varsity team from last year  including, Alexis Rose, Natasha Berthiaume, Ella McDonald, Bella Duncombe and Regan Hausmann.  We have some new faces that will help us out — new seniors  Krista Paulson and Gretchen Graftaas.”

Due to COVID-19, Kealy’s squad will be competing against only their conference and few (if any) fans are allowed to attend large invitationals. 

“So our meets are all two-to-three team meets,” she said.

In the Mississippi 8, Monticello is always very competitive and looks to have most of their team returning.  This year, it appears Cambridge Isanti will have a very challenging team as well.

“We are trying to be flexible with these changes,” Kealy said. “There is a limit as to how many runners can be on the starting line at a time so some races will be run in waves.  The spectators have been limited for the meets and the kids and coaches must be masked when not competing.” 

“We are doing our best to keep up the social distancing and proper mask wearing.  The kids have been doing well with this.  We have not yet been informed whether or not we will be allowed to have post season.”

Kealy’s background in the sport comes from her track and field days in high school and college. Back in her day, there was no cross country at the schools she attended.

“I used to hang out with the men’s team in college,” she said.  “My sister Jane (hall of fame coach) has been coaching CC in Minnetonka since the mid 80’s and I have learned so much from her.”

Running in cross country sounds simple, but in fact, coaching the sport can have difficulties associated with it. The mind is sometimes the hardest thing to mold.

“The hardest thing to get through to the kids is the need for off season training,” said Kealy.  “And the difference between pain and discomfort.”

What is the future of cross country in the area, the schools and the state?

“Minnesota has a very healthy cross country community with very strong traditions and talent that has been recognized throughout the nation,” Kealy said.  “There are always kids who want to try other things now and then and while we miss those girls, it  can be a healthy thing for kids to try new things.”   

“Our girls have been very consistent these past years and we appreciate the veteran girls providing such good leadership for the younger girls.  We have a very inclusive and supportive group.”

Princeton Meet

The Lady Bulldogs competed at Princeton for their first meet of the year, Sept. 3. This triangular was with Princeton and Cambridge-Isanti.

The day was beautiful and a bit breezy with the meet being held at the Becker Middle School this year. The Becker girls had a good showing and placed second as a team in the varsity portion of the meet.

Becker’s number one runner was Alexis Rose, who ran well placing third over all with a time of 21:55.56. Newcomer Krista Paulson had a very good, first-ever race and placed seventh overall (22:53.26). Natasha Berthiaume was Becker’s third-best girl as she placed ninth. Jaden Kraus was 10th and Abby Nelson 11th to round out Becker’s top five.  Megan Gregory, Raelee Lyon and Regan Hausmann finished out the team’s top eight runners for the 5K race.

The JV girls ran a 2925 meter course and Olivia Babler placed first,  Anikah Hall second, Anna Kuklok fourth, Emilia Hansen fifth and MacKenna Smith sixth.

In junior high, Becker’s Katelynn Brower took home first place, Naiya  Hanson fourth and Sophia Malisheski fifth on the 2250 meter course.

“There were a few nerves as this was the first meet and some of the girls had never raced in a CC meet before,” said Kealy. “They handled everything like champs and worked hard and we are very proud of all of them!”