Prairie du Chien at sectional cross country meet
Prairie’s Ella Hager had a time of 23:15 at the Spring Green Golf Course Saturday. (Photos by Ted Pennekamp)
Prairie du Chien’s Karly Jaynes races in the River Valley Sectional cross country meet at the Spring Green Golf Course Saturday morning.
The Prairie du Chien girls and Coach Mike Liddell warm up before the River Valley Sectional.
On a cool, brisk morning, the Prairie du Chien cross country team was setting up camp. The boys were up first on the day. Race time was at 11 a.m. and it was 41 degrees and very windy.
As the gun sounded, the pack headed out with Spencer DeHart slicing and dicing through the maze of runners. You’ll never shine if you don’t glow and Spencer ran a solid race with a (20:14) on the day to end his freshman year. Nature calls me to run and Max Anthony continued his running ways to end the day at (20:58) also ending his freshman year. Blake Bartels wants to think about making his way back to the finish line. I can see clearly now as the sun peeks through and my path to the end is in focus. Blake finished with a (21:21). Only shooting stars can break the mold and Collin continued his excellent year with another nice run of (21:22) to end his senior year. Picking up the pieces from my head down to my shoes, Lee Steiger ended the day at (21:42) to end his rookie year. These shoes are made for running and the breeze behind me will carry me to the place where I belong. Kouki Ishida finished his first year in XC with a (22:07). The boys finished 14th and also redeemed themselves from a week ago by beating Richland Center again.
It was the girls’ turn and the wind hasn’t slowed and the temperature hasn’t risen. Mother Nature has now decided to toss in some snow to start this race.
As the gun sounded, with skies of blue and clouds of white, Meg Katzung and Amber Huser were firing on all cylinders. The two of them set up a fortress wall and together they navigated the course. After one mile, they stood tall and had about a 4-second lead on the group behind them. After a few turns and corners, they continued to pull each other and built the lead into about a 6-second lead. I saw trees rustling in the wind, wait, it was the breeze from Meg (20:25) and Amber (20:30) cruising to a third and fourth-place victory and the right to run at the state meet next weekend.
Be a believer and take me home XC roads, to the place where I belong and Karly Jaynes ended in 23rd place with a (21:48) on the day to end her junior year. How many courses must she run before they call her name at the end? Last week Floyd said, “Shine on you Crazy Diamond” and this week Pink made it clear. Into the distance and no turning back when “Learning to Fly.” Faith Dillman has found her rhythm and her wings the second half of the season by leaving a vapor trail. Faith ended her senior year in 53rd place with a (23:05) and 4 out of the final 6 meets with a sub 23 time. Anyway the wind blows doesn’t really matter to me because when the light gets into my heart my shoes are made for running. Ella Hager ended the day in 60th place with a (23:15) to end her rookie year. I won’t back down and I’ll stand my ground as Dom Reilly continued to run steadfast with Petty. Dom finished her season with a (25:54) to end her rookie season as well. Jayden Jenks’ life has been good to her and Walsh so far. Jayden ended both her season’s so far on varsity and Dire Straits says, “That’s the Way You Do It.” Jayden ended at (25:56). The girls’ team ended in fifth place on the day out of 15 teams.
A special thanks to Dominique Reilly and Jadyn Jenks for stepping up and helping the team when they needed you most.
Congratulations to Meg and Amber for advancing to state at Wisconsin Rapids! They will be running at about 3:05 p.m.
