148th Article at the independent

Area cross country teams compete at Lakeview Monday

COTTONWOOD — The Lakeview Lakers cross country team hosted a meet with several area teams on Monday afternoon.

For the boys out of the 61 runners that participated in the 5,000 meters event, 15 of those players placed from the Canby/Minneota team with three of them being in the top ten with times of 17:17 (Kolten Duis), 17:20 (Zach Ourada) and 18:08 (Blake Giese).

The Lakers placed six runners with their top placement being fifth for Ethan Schwankl at 17:52.

The Knights of Russell-Tyler-Ruthton had a strong showing as well placing seven different boys with their top two runners being in the top ten at 18:21 (Logan Roelofs), who placed eighth and at 18:54 (Aiden Johnson) who placed ninth.

Canby/Minneota, Knights, Lakers and the Rabbits all finished second through fifth in this order behind first place Redwood Valley on team scores.

The girls would only have 47 runners that qualified for times of the 5,000 meters event and the Canby/Minneota team took home the top two spots including edging out Redwood Valley on team scores by one point 38-37. Braelyn Merritt and Claire Stoks of Canby/Minneota came in first and second with Merritt scoring a 20:16 and Stoks with a 21:08. Eight different runners placed for for Canby/Minneota and none below 25th.

The Lakers had four runners who placed and Alexa Espinoza placed the highest on the team with a 21st finish.

The other school that tied with four runners finishing was the Knights and their best finish was by Jaeryn Buchert, who placed at 30th.

The Rabbits would also place a top five finish for the boys in team scores, coming in at fourth.