By Chris Bennett
Correspondent
Weather be damned – the Elkhorn Area High School boys and girls cross country teams each improved on last year’s performances Oct. 18 at the Southern Lakes Conference cross country meet at Waterford High School.
“Conditions were difficult, with cold temperatures, rain and mud,” Elks coach Randi Wulf said. “With each race the course got more and more slick and chewed up. With conditions like these it really tests a runner’s mental toughness, as well as their physical abilities.
“Overall, our team handled the conditions well. I am pleased that we improved from last year’s finish, with both of our teams finishing in sixth place.”
Last season, Elkhorn finished seventh of eight teams in the girls meet and eighth of eight in the boys’ meet.
Tay Mair finished the highest of any Elkhorn runner. Mair finished fourth in the girls’ five kilometer race in 20 minutes, 48 seconds. Mair’s finished earned her First Team All-Conference honors.
Maddie Barlow finished 14th (21:46) and earned Second Team All-Conference honors.
“The girls had slightly better conditions to run in since the rain stopped for their races,” Wulf said. “The girls really ran well today, just missing fifth place as a team by one point.”
Luz Contreras finished 36th (24:03) and Monique Briand 37th (24:10). Haley Annes finished 39th (24:19) and Diane Lopez 42nd (24:41). Natalie Sesing finished 47th (26:08).
The boys raced before the girls and dealt with steady rain. Arandu Huerta ran the fastest of any Elk. Huerta finished the five kilometer boys’ race in 18:29 and finished sixth.
“Jacob Truesdale ran a very good race as our second finisher,” Wulf said. “Connor LaFavor also ran a solid race and recorded his fastest time of the season.
“Joining Connor in running a (personal best) on a difficult day was Jake Nethery, who has really been coming on at the end of the season.”
Truesdale finished 30th (19:24), LaFavor 33rd (19:34) and Connor Leahy 38th (20:02). Jayce Coffey finished 44th (20:48) and Jake Nethery 45th (20:49). Tim Crum finished 47th (21:01) and Sam DiVarco finished 58th (22:33).
Up next for the Elks is the WIAA Division 1 Sectional Meet Saturday at Verona High School. The top two teams and top five individuals not members of one of the top two teams qualify for the WIAA State Cross Country Championships Nov. 1 at The Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids.
