Spencer runners get first taste of action at Wildwood Park meet

The Spencer cross country team was able to experience its first meet this fall at an event hosted by Marshfi eld Columbus at Wildwood Park on Sept. 1. Following guidelines, the team competed against a smaller pool of schools than usual, facing the new average of five teams at the meet.

Running in a small field of 38 runners, the Spencer boys were able to place themselves around the middle of the pack. The first Rocket across the finish line was Malachi Anderson, who placed 19th with a time of 22:10. He was followed a couple places later by Cameron Nieman, who placed 21st with his time of 22:19.

The rest of the Spencer boys came through a couple minutes later. Caleb Rucker ran a 24:59 to place 31st overall, followed by Noah Schultz, who ran a 25:20 for 33rd place. Kaizer Eickleberry placed 35th with a time of 26:21, Andrew Sieracki ran a 27:32 for 36th, and Austyn Kohls placed 37th with a time of 27:33.

The girls had an even smaller pool of runners to compete against, running in a 27-runner field. The first runner to finish for Spencer was Leah Zastrow, who placed eighth with a time of 26:16. She was followed by Emily Wehrman, who placed 12th with her time of 27:45. Faith Miller placed 17th by running a 28:37, Haylee Hopperdi- etzel ran a 28:39 for 18th, and Alizabelle Carmen placed 24th with her time of 31:32.

The Spencer boys placed fourth as a team with 84 points. Also competing at the meet were Marshfield Columbus (65), the Chippewa Valley Lightning Bolts (38) and Altoona (35). Eau Claire Regis fielded an incomplete boys team.

The Spencer girls took third place at the meet with 71 points, finishing ahead of the Chippewa Valley Lightning Bolts (74) and Marshfield Columbus, which fielded an incomplete girls team. Eau Claire Regis was second (48) and Altoona took first (29).