Goessel cross-country races well at opener
Staff Writer
At the Pretty Prairie cross-country meet Thursday, runners scored well for the Bluebirds despite not being able to compete in all team races.
Runners could choose either a 4K or 5K race. Six runners in the girls’ division choose the 4K race.
There were only 12 runners in the whole field, so “runners spread out quickly and the Goessel girls did a good job of finishing the race without anyone else around each one,” coach Brian Lightner said.
Elyse Boden medaled in fourth place with a time of 20:54. Cassandra Rust crossed the finish line in 21:37, Porclein Unruh 22:31, Edel Miller 22:43, Katelyn Olson 24:03, and Alyssa Boden, in her first race, 28:54.
Five of Goessel’s boys team ran in the 5K race and Dawson Duerksen had a career-best 19:40 in the season’s first race.
Jerah Schmidt was not far behind at 20:19, Nate Impson at 21:07, Brendon Hicks at 21:43, and David Sawyer in 23:41.
Seven male runners raced in the 4K competition, with many of them being in a high school sporting event for the first time.
Adrian Kastner earned second place with a time of 15:57. Jacob Schrag came in at 16:17, Timothy Schrag at 16:41, Chicco Bertozzi at 16:53, Ben Olson at 18:44, Jan Wolters at 19:59, and Zackary Guerrero in 20:01.
Goessel was the only team in this division with enough runners to compete for team scores.
Goessel’s next meet will be Sept. 6 in Hesston.