Another state trip for Cardinal boys' cross country
The Cardinal boys’ cross country team is returning to state for the 27th time in school history. Alexandria finished second to Moorhead by nine points during Thursday’s Section 8AA meet at Little Falls, earning another state meet trip.
- Boys' cross country team
The Cardinal boys’ cross country team is returning to state for the 27th time in school history.
Alexandria finished second to Moorhead by nine points during Thursday’s Section 8AA meet at Little Falls, earning another state meet trip.
“The boys took a serious run at Moorhead,” said Card head coach Mark Nelsen. “We faced Moorhead in September on this same course and were defeated by 87 points.
“The coaches were impressed with the focus and races that this team put forth to be within nine points of a very good Moorhead team.
“Individually, Zach Hodgson continues to develop into one of the top runners in the section and was in some pretty good company at the finish line,” he added. “He is an individual qualifier to the state meet with his fourth place finish.”
Hodgson ran a 16:55.3, trailing section champ and defending state champion, Lukas Gemar of Moorhead, by just 22 seconds. Gemar is also the 10th ranked runner in Class AA.
“Will Sieling has been recovering from a cold and just missed qualifying by one place,” said Nelsen of the Cards’ No. 2 runner, who finished 11th in 17:14.1.
“Austin McCoy had a phenomenal last 1,600 meters, passing over 30 runners,” he added. “Sam Vinje took a spill about the halfway mark. He did a great job of not letting that affect his race, getting back to his feet and position for a 16th place finish.”
McCoy was 12th in 17:21.4 and Vinje 16th in 17:33.12.
“Dan Gorghuber had an incredible final 600 meters, passing several runners,” said Nelsen. “If he had only another 100 meters, he may have caught another six runners.
Gorghuber was 21st in 17:36.44, Mitch Ronning was 25th in 17:40.84 and David Ohman was 35th in 18:04.39.
“Mitch struggled a little after the two mile mark, but battled well in the final 800 meters.
“Dave had a very good race, keeping our gap from one to seven to 1:09,” Nelsen noted, “one of the best for an Alexandria team in a section meet.”
The Card team finished eighth last year and have four runners from that squad returning. McCoy was 90th, Hodgson 107th, Sieling 121st and Vinje 142nd.
The State Class AA meet is set for Saturday, November 7 at St. Olaf College in Northfield, with the boys’ race beginning at 10 a.m.
SECTION 8AA CROSS COUNTRY
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29
BOYS’ TEAM SCORES – 1. Moorhead 55, 2. Alexandria 64, 3. Monticello 122, 4. Brainerd 137, 5. Sartell 152, 6. Detroit Lakes 167, 7. St. Michael-Albertville 168, 8. Fergus Falls 215, 9. St. Cloud Tech 230, 10. Bemidji 236, 11. Little Falls 276, 12. Big Lake, 325, 13. St. Cloud Apollo352, 14. Rocori 393, 15. Sauk Rapids-Rice 434.
INDIVIDUAL CHAMPION – Lukas Gemar, Moorhead, 16:33.2.
ALEXANDRIA RESULTS – 4. Zach Hodgson 16:55.3, 11. Will Sieling 17:14.1, 12. Austin McCoy 17:21.4, 16. Sam Vinje 17:33.12, 21. Dan Gorghuber 17:36.44, 25. Mitch Ronning 17:40.84, 35. David Ohman 18:04.39.
Tags: alexandria sports, sports, home, team, cardinals, boys, cross, country, section, 8aa, meet
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