The Becker Cross Country teams had a very successful day at the Granite Ridge Championship Cross Country meet Tuesday at Little Falls country club. 

 

The girls team successfully defended their conference title for the third year in a row. The Bulldogs had five girls earn all conference honors and one honorable mention.

 

Alli Hendrickson got off the ladies off to a great start and never looked back.  She controlled the race from start to finish and ran an impressive time of 19:16.33 to claim the conference champion individual title.  

 

Victoria Kolbinger ran shoulder-to-shoulder with Albany's Kristine Kalthoff to the very end when Kalthoff moved ahead to place second,  just four seconds ahead of third place finisher Kolbinger, who ran a nice time of 19:52.31.  

 

Last years champ, Lexi Dehmer, who is still recovering from her recent illness, battled through to place fifth behind Mora's Brooke Wedin.  Lexi's time was 20:07.10.    

 

Adeline Kent (21:13.45) and Gabrielle Imm (PR time of 21:16.08) placed 14th and 15th. Madi McDonald (21:26.33) finished in 18th and Grace Smith was 27th in a PR time of 21:55.68.  

 

“These girls knew how important their places were and really battled it out on the course for each spot,” said Head Coach Trish Reimer-Kealy.   “Alli, Victoria, Lexi, Adeline, and Gabrielle made all conference and Madi was honorable mention.  We knew we would be in for a battle for us to get a three-peat and the girls really stepped up to the challenge!”

 

Team scores: 1). Becker 38; 2). Albany 59; 3). Mora 62; 4). Milaca 88; 5). Zimmerman 147; 6). St Cloud Cathedral 160; 7). Little Falls 186; 8). Foley 221.

 

The Becker junior varsity girls placed second with 37 points behind Albany, who had 29.  

 

Allyna Storms was third in a time of 22:18.07 (PR). Tate Spinner was fourth in 22:22.92, Alli Garding seventh with a season best of 22:44.07, Kaylyn Wiehle was 10th in a PR of 23:07.20 and Sydney Stommes rounded out Becker’s top five in 14th place with a time of 23:33.16.  

 

The JV girls earned six PR times.

 

Becker’s junior high  girls placed second behind Albany.  Megan Gregory won the 3200 meter race and Abby Nelson was fourth, Jaden Kraus fifth, Trinity Olson-Burkman 17th and Aria Webster 37th.

 

The boys varsity team placed fourth for the second year in a row. 

 

“We are really proud of the competitiveness this group  showed in this race,” said Coach Reimer-Kealy. “They went out hard after their goal to get fourth because we were projected to come in fifth as a team.”

 

“They really showed a lot of heart and deserve much credit.”  

 

Becker had two all-conference members and one honorable mention.

 

“That is the most honors we have had in many years for the boys team,” said Trish. 

 

Luke Pappenfus has been Becker’s #1 runner all year long and this race was no different as he went out and kept pace to end up ninth with a time of 17:31.07 for all-conference honors.  Basil Ricker was the team’s other all-conference team member, coming in 11th with a really nice second half of his race. He finished with a PR time of 17:45.73. 

 

Jonathan Novak just missed out on all-conference by placing 16th with a PR time of 17:56.11.  

 

“It is great to get three guys in the 17’s and they have been moving up all year,” Reimer-Kealy said.

 

Also running well for 35th place was  Justin Kringler in 18:41.58, David Myres 46th (19:36.58), Bennett Edling in 49th (PR time of 19:54.65) and Evan Schafer 53rd (20:16.07).  

 

Team scores:  1). Mora 30; 2). Little Falls 40; 3). St. Cloud Cathedral 81; 4). Becker 113; 5). Albany 134; 6). Milaca 159; 7). Foley 175; 8). Zimmerman 233.

 

The junior varsity boys placed sixth and the team’s top five were Jake Nelson, with a huge PR time of 20:04.20 for 31st, Lachlan Lahr in 44th with a season best of 20:38.12,  Aaron Gregory 51st in (PR) 21:02.25, Cade Stommes in 55th in (PR) 21:07.7 and Erik Parson 66th in 21:52.91. 

 

Becker’s boys junior high squad placed fifth with Mason Doucette leading the way in 23rd, Jack Budd 27th, Wyatt Hiltner 31st, Logan Bigelow 62nd, Cole Wilhelm 63rd and Trenten Woolhouse 66th.

 

“Everyone had a great day and it was a really good way to end our regular season,” said the head coach.   “We want to say a fond farewell to our seniors —  Christian Riffe, Alyssa Thielen and Allyna Storms.”  

While Allyna will be an alternate on our section team this was the last race for the other two and we thank them for their efforts and wish them well,” said Reimer-Kealy. “We also thank our wonderful, supportive parents. You are the best!”

 

The varsity teams run Thursday at the Section 8AA meet at the Little Falls Golf Course.