The Bulldogs Girls Cross Country team is heading to state after returning to the Mississippi 8 Conference Championship meet on Tuesday and coming home with the championship trophy.
The girls enjoyed success at all three levels.
The varsity team ran excellent races to win the meet with a score of 44 points. Monticello was a close 2nd with 50, followed by Princeton 83, Cambridge-Isanti 92, Chisago Lakes 117, Big Lake 168, St. Francis 172 and North Branch 205.
“We had a competitive battle with Monticello,” said Coach Trish Reimer Kealy. “They’re a well-coached team and we have a nice healthy rivalry with them. While Monticello ran very well, our girls put together their race strategy and packed together to bring home the win.”
Lexi Dehmer ran with the leaders the entire race to place 3rd overall leading the Bulldogs with 19:54:0. Alexis Rose turned in another fine performance, coming in 8th (20:34.1), and Ella McDonald continued to improve and find her zone, placing 10th (20:43.0 for a PR).
Natasha Berthiaume stayed tough and came in 11th (20:43.6), and Dani Nuest rounded out the grouping in 12th (20:44.5)
“Having that group of girls so close together really helped us and they’re learning to work together better all the time,” said Reimer Kealy.
The Bulldogs’ top five athletes earned All Conference Awards for their efforts, and three more received Honorable Mention All Conference; Alexa Voller coming in 17th (20:56.5 PR), Abby Nelson 18th (21:02.3 PR), and Adeline Kent in 19th (21:05.1)
“This is especially nice since we returned to the Mississippi 8 Conference this year after joining the Granite Ridge in 2012,” said Reimer Kealy.
The JV team also had an exciting race, immediately taking control and not looking back. They came in 1st with a perfect score of 15 by having their five scoring runners take 1st through 5th place. Monticello was 2nd with a score of 46, followed by Big Lake 90 and Cambridge-Isanti 109.
Morgan Vee was first across the line with 21:33.5, followed by Bella Duncombe in 2nd (21:57.1), Nora Pilarski 3rd (22:00.1), Hannah Dierkes 4th (22:17.9), and Jaden Kraus out-sprinting a Monticello runner for 5th (22:20.9).
The team also placed 7th with Kayla Gruenes, 10th Regan Hausmann, 12th Shelby Dawson, 15th Callie Doucette, and 32nd Grace Wilhelm.
The junior high girls came in 2nd as a team behind Monticello in the 2600 race. Alea Briggs placed 8th, Olivia Babler 11th, Anna Kuklok 15th, Natalie Trenz 16th, Emilia Hansen 25th and MacKenna Smith 37th.
“They have been challenging one another all year to be better and have shown so much improvement,” said Reimer Kealy.
She expressed love and best wishes to the three seniors on the team; Callie Doucette and Grace Wilhelm, who ran their final races for the Bulldogs on Tuesday, and Lexi Dehmer, who will be running at sections.
She also expressed thanks to Dave Niemi, Jesse O’Neill, the team’s parents and school personnel, and congratulated the boys team on their successful season.
It’s the six year in a row the Bulldogs Girls Cross Country team has brought home the conference championship. They’ll be competing next at the Section 8AA meet Thursday at Rocori High School.