BEA cross country team’s Grant Strukel is shown competing in a recent meet.

Though both the BEA girls and BEA boys cross country teams did not place in the Big South Conference Championship as a team, there is one lucky individual who earned All-Conference honors, and it happens to be his third consecutive year to do so.

Grant Strukel earned third place in the boys varsity race with a time of 16:59.

“He was with the leaders at the mile mark, then tightening a bit the last half of the race and finished robustly,” says head coach Tom Plocker.

Boys Results:

The Buccaneer boys earned 156 points for the day, placing sixth. St. James earned first place with 34 points followed by Redwood Valley with 52 points. Luverne took third for the day with 68 points.

“Brady Olsen had a decent sub-19, while Angel Martinez surged over the second loop to post a big personal record,” says Plocker. “Eric Becker completed his final high schoolrace with his fastest-ever 5K.”

Boys Varsity (5,000 meters): Brady Olsen (18:57), Angel Martinez (21:15), Eric Becker (21:35), Nate Phippen (21:38), Blake Townsend (22:25), Carson Strukel (24:19).

Boys JV (5,000 meters): Eli Slater (23:10), Alex Dikken (24:45), Eli Paz (25:16), Soren Fering (26:00), James Greer (26:32), Shane Levenhagen (27:14), Skylar Wach (28:24).

Girls Results:

The Maroon and Gold girls did not have any All-Conference finalists, but they did work hard for sixth for the day with 157 points. Luverne earned first with 23 points while Pipestone claimed second place with 61 points. Redwood Valley was able to nab third place with 64 points.

“Callie Stevermer ran a nicely-paced race to break 23 minutes,” says the head coach. “Amanda Jacobson improved by 17 places over last year. That’s impressive.”

The coach went on to say Gabby Weerts had her most assertive effort of the season and Arianna Nagel worked hard as well.

Girls Varsity (5,000 meters): Callie Stevermer (22:57), Amanda Jacobson (23:55), Gabby Weerts (26:29), Arianna Nagel (27:59), Elizabeth Jacobson (28:46), Aubrey Hueper (30:38), Hayley Jahnke (32:23).

Girls JV (5,000 meters): Leah Becker (27:58), Sara Hernandez (31:06).

The cross country Section meet is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 25, at Tri-City United High School.