Thanks to all who supported the cross country and track and field teams with the Johnnie Challenge earlier this month. A year from now, when, hopefully, we are able to travel again, we will renew using your generosity. For now, we are staying close to home and measuring ourselves with intra-squad competitions.
We began with a September 2 three mile time trial on the Wobegon Trail, running west to east. We started this run in eight waves departing at one minute intervals. Each wave was made up of a “pod” of three to five people who were mostly roommates. On a warm day, our top finisher was freshman Lloyd Young in 15:34. It was a start.
On Saturday, September 18 we met at the track for 800 and 1600 meter time trials. Runners started at 10 second intervals, essentially solo runs. Results were not spectacular, but we knocked a lot of rust off. Top performers were sophomores Alexei Hensel and Mitchell Grand in 2:02.8 and 4:30.9, respectively,
This past Saturday, September 25, we convened on the track again for 1600 and 3200 meter time trials. With little wind and temp in the mid 50s, conditions were favorable. More, I could sense our guys were starting to feel they were gaining racing fitness and looking forward to racing. We raced in groups of three to five.
1600 Meters
Tommy Allen, Fr 4:44.24
Seth Jackson, Sr 4:44.46
Danny Kloeppner, So 4:51.46
Carter Grove, Fr 4:55.94
Riley Berg, So 4:55.94
Nico Merickel, So 4:58.37
Charlie Otto, Jr 5:00.10
Max Vogel, Fr 5:01.57
Josh Anderson, Fr 5:05.57
Jacob Czech, Sr 5:07.73
Robbie Smith, Fr 5:14.75
3200 Meters
Mitchell Grand, So 9:29.34
Lloyd Young, Fr 9:30.41
Andy Goldsmith, Jr 9:36.71
Tom Nemanich, So 9:42.92
James Schwinghamer, Fr 9:45.50
Ryan Houseman, Sr 9:48.70
Alexei Hensel, So 9:49.71
Nathan Clausing, So 9:59.92
Nate Meyer, Jr 10:02.90
Sam Rengo, So 10:07.00
Justin Brakob, Sr 10:19.58
Bobby Harrison, Jr 12:10.98
Mostly minor ailments kept twelve others on the sideline, and more will race this Saturday in a 5K cross country race at Boulder Ridge Golf Course in St. Cloud. The Saint Ben’s team will race at 10:40; our Saint John’s team will follow at 11:10. This will be a virtual competition with Concordia-Moorhead’s team running a 5K cross country race on a home course of their own. We will compare times. Happily, the Boulder Ridge course is flat and, weather allowing, should run pretty fast. Expected weather at this writing is 42 degrees, 25 percent chance of precipitation, 3 mph.
After a lonely spring, it is great having the team together again. More to come.
