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LUVERNE — Three Pipestone Area Schools cross country runners earned honorable mentions from their performances at the Big South Conference meet Tuesday, Oct. 14.
Runners battled wet grounds and chilly and blustery conditions for the first time this season, with the temperature barely scraping 50 degrees.
Pipestone Area Schools’ Rhaelee Heidebrink labors a bit as she runs uphill during the Big South Conference championships on Tuesday, Oct. 14, at Luverne High School. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
The conference meet features a unique format in which competitors from small and large schools run together. Later, times and places are extracted into divisions.
Pipestone Area Schools’ Bo Stogdill (front) and Joshua Zupp round the curve with more than two miles complete. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
“The important thing to remember at this conference meet is to run your race regardless of who’s in it,” PAS head coach Mark Moeller explained. “The big schools in our conference bring some really talented individuals.”
Moeller said this turns a faster-paced race. The lead pack develops quickly.
“We just have to do our thing, and focus on that,” the coach commented.
Three Arrow runners rose to the occasion with Rhaelee Heidebrink and Amelia Bucher earning honorable mentions from the girls 5,000-meter race.
Ramon Macias continued to build his resume honorably mentioned as well.
Pipestone Area Schools’ Ramon Macias earned honorable mention on the boys side. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Heidebrink, a freshman, placed 11th in the small school division with a time of 21:43.07, an outstanding time considering those conditions.
Amelia Bucher, the experienced junior, pulled in with a 13th-place performance clocking in at 21:58.84.
“I was very proud to see them get in the top 15,” Moeller said. “They both ran great races, and I am happy they got recognized for it.”
Macias, eyeing a top-10 finish, settled for 15th in the small school boys division — recording a time of 18:14.28.
“His goal was to get top 10,” Moeller said. “However, getting in the top 20 was respectable considering we have the top two boys teams in our section.”
Moeller was pleased to see Macias handle this near break-neck pace, thanks to runners from both Marshall and Belle Plaine.
St. Peter senior and University of Minnesota signee Keira Friedrich was the overall winner. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Overall meet winners were Isaac Bemmels of Belle Plaine (boys, 16:03.88) and St. Peter’s Keira Friedrich (girls, 18:07.39). Friedrich has signed to run for the University of Minnesota women’s cross country team.
Complete PAS results may be found in accompanying agate.
Pipestone Area Schools’ Mikah Weets races past a runner from Blue Earth Area during the Big South Conference championships in Luverne on Tuesday, Oct. 14. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Section 3A Meet
MADISON — The Minnesota State High School League playoffs begin this week with the Section 3A meet.
The races will take place 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23, at Madison Country Club, with Lac qui Parle Valley serving as the meet host.
The boys race will be first, followed by the girls (which is expected to start at about 4:40 p.m.).
“Madison has a fairly flat terrain,” Moeller said. “However, the finish will be the toughest element with the last 300 meters starting at an incline. We just have to keep our goals in focus, and not let the course dictate our ability to run fast.”
PAS, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton and Southwest Minnesota Christian/Edgerton are among the schools running.
Pipestone Area Schools’ runners Hadley Fruechte, Makenley DeWilde and Isabella Russell compete during the Big South Conference championships on Tuesday, Oct. 14 in Luverne. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Red Rock Conference
FULDA — Three local runners excelled at the Red Rock Conference meet on Monday, Oct. 13, at Fulda Town & Country Golf Course.
Southwest Minnesota Christian/Edgerton’s Hannah Masselink was third and Russell-Tyler-Ruthton’s Summer Labrune fourth, respectively, in the varsity girls division.
Masselink recorded a time of 20:19, and Labrune passed Murray County Central/Fulda runner Mara Clark for her spot (21:02).
On the boys’ side, 2024 state qualifier Jonah Uilk placed fourth overall with a strong time of 17:42.
Russell-Tyler-Ruthton’s Summer Labrune (left) placed in the top-10 runners for all-Red Rock Conference honors in 2024. (Star file photo by Eric Viccaro)
CROSS COUNTRY
Tuesday, Oct. 14
At Big South Conference Championships
Luverne Diamonds
Small-School Division
Boys
1, Redwood Valley, 27; 2, Windom Area, 43; 3, St. James Area, 89; 4, Jackson County Central, 124; 5, Luverne, 140; 6, Pipestone Area, 154; 7, Blue Earth Area, 167
Girls
1, Redwood Valley, 26; 2, Luverne, 57; 3, Jackson County Central, 99; 4, St. James Area, 105; 5, Pipestone Area, 105; 6, Windom Area, 166; 7, Blue Earth Area, 181
Medalists (5,000-meter run)
Boys: 1, Tyler Robinson, Redwood Valley, 16:31.87; 2, Andrei Rivera, St. James Area, 16:49.77
Girls: 1, Addie Thomes, Redwood Valley, 19:17.73; 2, Reese Prescott, RV, 20:01.38
PAS results
Varsity boys
15, Ramon Macias, 18:14.28; 31, Joshua Zupp, 20:56.74; 33, Bo Stogdill, 21:00.86; 38, Barron Feste, 21:51.04; 39, William Perez-Garcia, 22:08.51; 47, Luis Ruiz-Perez, 23:26.22; 48, Mikah Weets, 23:27.28
Field: 55 runners
Varsity girls
11, Rhaelee Heidebrink, 21:43.07; 13, Amelia Bucher, 21:58.84; 23, Alivia Fruechte, 22:54.32; 31, Josie Danks, 23:44.03; 32, Shiloh Post, 23:54.64; 42, Isabella Russell, 24:37.64; 44, Hadley Fruechte, 24:40.10; 46, Makenley DeWilde, 25:51.17; 48, Alyvia Caskey, 26:21.95
Field: 54 runners
Junior Varsity Division
Girls
12, Adeline Wrenn, 24:54.62; 19, Ellie Rieck, 25:48.61; 23, Lily Fruechte, 26:46.20; 26, Samantha Stokesbary, 27:04.92; 27, Joannacrystal Perez Garcia, 27:20.76