Postseason has begun

Schnelle leads local harriers to sectional finals

Edgar cross country coach Dennis Webb told runner, sophomore Morgan Schnelle, she needed to have a “clear mind” while competing in the WIAA Division 3 sub sectional on Monday in Edgar.

Morgan, the daughter of Shawn and Mandy Schnelle, improved on her sixth-place finish at the M a r awo o d Conference championship race on Thursday to garner second place at the WIAA Division 3 sub sectional.

She advances to run in the D-3 sectional final girl’s race at 1 p.m. this Saturday, Oct. 24, at the Big Stone Golf Course in Three Lakes. The D-3 sectional final boy’s race begins at 1:45 p.m. on Saturday.

Morgan took one week of practice off before running in the Marawood Conference championship race on Thursday at Frey Field in Spencer, so she could give the hip flexor muscle strain she’s dealt with some time to heal. She admitted she needed to “shake off the rust” during the conference finals race, and that she was also too nervous.

“I just need to focus on running my best and not worrying about how I’m going to perform,” Morgan said before Monday’s sub sectional race in Edgar.

Morgan’s sixth-place finish in the Marawood finals race was still good enough to earn her first team all-conference honors for the first two seasons in her high school cross country career.

The top eight individual runners at the conference finals race are awarded first team all-conference, while those who finish in ninth through 16th place earn second team all-conference and 17th through 24th receive honorable mention all-conference.

Thurs second in Marawood

Marathon junior Julianna Thurs captured her second runners-up finish on Thursday in two attempts competing in Marawood Conference championship races. She crossed the finish line during Thursday’s race only two seconds behind champion Jordyn Karl of Auburndale.

Julianna, the daughter of Chad and Sarah Thurs, also took second place at the Marawood title race in her freshman season. She didn’t run cross country last season while she attended Wausau West. Julianna said she’s “absolutely” happy to be back running cross country for the Red Raiders this fall.

She earned first team all-conference again this year and she also took fifth place at the WIAA Division 3 sub sectional on Monday in Edgar. Julianna advances to the sectional final race on Saturday in Three Lakes, where she’s hoping to qualify for the state championships again this season. She placed fourth at the state meet as a freshman.

Both Marathon’s girls and boys cross country teams took third place at the WIAA Division 3 sub sectional in Edgar, which means they won’t be making return trips to the state championship meet this season. Only the top two teams that place in the sub sectional advance to the sectional finals race.

Krasselt achieves a PR

Marathon senior Cullen Krasselt took third place at the Marawood Conference championship race on Thursday, which is eight places higher than he finished the race last season.

“I was hoping to at least take second place but I’m happy with the time I ran, because getting under 18 minutes has been my goal all season,” he said.

Cullen, who is the son of Cory and Joanne Krasselt, placed seventh at the WIAA Division 3 sub sectional in Edgar. He advances to the sectional finals race this Saturday, along with Athens sophomore Nathan Wolf, who placed 12th at the sub sectional.

Athens boys and girls cross country runners couldn’t compete in the Marawood Conference championship races on Thursday, because the Athens School District was under a COVID-19 quarantine until Monday.

Top local runners

Jacob Smith and Derek Vesely of Marathon, along with Cade Bruesewitz and Brett Bangart of Stratford, all earned second team all-Marawood Conference at Thursday’s race. Owen Marks of Marathon and Cody Miller of Stratford received honorable mention all-conference honors.

Jada Prihoda and Laci Hoeksema of Marathon and Rachel Brewster of Edgar each earned second team all-Marawood Conference on Thursday. Kali Prihoda of Marathon, along with Kressa Wenzel, Ella Heidmann and Lydia Golbach of Stratford, all received honorable mention all-conference accolades.

Stratford head coach Kevin “Tiny” Michalski was proud of how well his runners performed in the conference championship races. “It’s great to see the hard work the kids have put in during the last 10 weeks pay off for them at the conference meet,” Michalski said. Elizabeth Van Rixel of Athens took sixth place, Jada Prihoda eighth and Rachel Brewster 11th at the WIAA Division 3 sub sectional on Monday in Edgar. All three of them advance to the sectional finals race on Saturday in Three Lakes.

Kressa Wenzel placed 11th at the WIAA Division 2 sub sectional on Tuesday morning at Frey Field in Spencer. She is the lone Stratford runner to advance into sectional finals race at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24, in Westby.

CROSS COUNTRY RUNNERS COMPETE- Ava Buchberger of Marathon leads a pack of local competitors, including Amber Skrzpchak (576) of Edgar, Lauren Kraus of Stratford and Brooklyn Schwoerer (575) of Edgar during the half-way point of Thursday’s Marawood Conference championship girl’s race. Ava got her picture taken with her older sister, Anna Buchberger, after the race.STAFF PHOTO/CASEY KRAUTKRAMER