Blue Earth Area’s Grant Strukel maintains his lead during the midway juncture of the Early Bird cross country invitational's junior boys race in Fairmont.

“Sloppy but swift.”

Those are the words of Blue Earth Area cross country head coach Tom Plocker in regards to last week’s Mankato East Invite, which took place on Aug. 28. Conditions were chilly, and the running course was a bit sloppy with mud, but that did not stop the Bucs from giving their all.

The girls team placed fifth with 122 points behind Minnesota Valley Lutheran, placing fourth with 103 points, Springfield in third with 95 points, Mankato East in second with 31, and Belle Plaine taking first with 28 points.

As for the boys team, they placed sixth at the meet with 131 points. MVL took fifth with 128 points while Sibley East snuck in for fourth with 100 points. Springfield earned third place with 91 points, while Belle Plaine earned second with 56 points, leaving Mankato East to take the win with 28 points.

Boys Results

“Grant Strukel was a little distracted the first mile, but still posted a quality sub-18 first 5K of the year,” says Plocker. “Brady Olsen had a nice start and hung on for a decent time. Cameron and Blake showed big improvements from last year, and James Greer claimed a big 5K personal best.”

Boys Varsity (5,000 meters): Grant Strukel (third, 17:48), Brady Olsen (20:15), Cameron Germain (22:59), Blake Townsend (25:00), James Greer (28:20).

Boys JH (2,500 meters): Angel Martinez (ninth, 10:50), Alex Dikken (12:04), Soren Fering (12:06), Carson Strukel (12:12), Shane Levenhagen (13:08), James Hill (13:21), Eli Paz (14:51).

Girls

Results

“Callie Stevermer zoomed to a sweet first 5K of the season, as she was close to 23 minutes,” says the head coach. “Kaitlin Johnson hung in there in a nearly goal-pace mark. Amanda Jacobson burs through with her best-ever 5,000 meter race. Emma lost her wisdom, but gained a quality first 5K of the year, while Arianna Nagel and Gabby Weerts finished gamely. Elizabeth Jacobson and Hayley Jahnke had solid first 5Ks of 2018, and Aubrey Hueper completed her first-ever long race.”

Girls Varsity (5,000 meters): Callie Stevermer (23:14), Kaitlin Johnson (24:33), Amanda Jacobson (25:38), Emma Germain (28:40), Arianna Nagel (30:24), Gabby Weerts (31:34), Elizabeth Jacobson (32:46), Aubrey Hueper (35:19), Hayley Jahnke (36:39).

Girls JH (2,500 meters): Leah Becker (15:06).