Runners get tune up for sectionals

Erbach Park will be site for D-3 race

By Casey Krautkramer

Athens and Marathon varsity cross country runners competed in unseasonably warm conditions at the Athens Invite on Thursday, as they prepare for the upcoming postseason races.

Marathon sophomore Jacob Smith was the top local finisher at the race held at Erbach Park in Athens. He finished the boys race in 18 minutes, 22.3 seconds.

“I was about 30 seconds off my personal record,” Jacob, who is the son of Aaron and Gina Smith, said. “I started out the race a little too fast and my chest started to get a little tight halfway through the race.” He was hoping to run in much cooler weather, which normally occurs at the Athens Invite. It was warm and humid on Thursday afternoon in Athens. “Normally it’s a little colder at the Athens race so I definitely wasn’t used to the warm weather,” Jacob Smith said. “Half of the time it’s raining during this race, so it was definitely a lot different this time.”

Athens junior Nathan Wolf took seventh place in 18:23.8 right behind Jacob Smith. His sophomore teammate, Andrew Schaer, placed eighth in 18:30.4.

Bluejays head coach Korey Rottscheit was excited to tell his boy runners after the race that Athens finished in second place with 87 points behind champion Tomahawk with 85. Auburndale placed third with 90 points and Marathon was fourth with 95.

Wolf was pleased his Athens boys squad took second place at its home race.

“I am very happy because we’ve been pushing ourselves each practice to get stronger and faster,” Wolf said. “Every day we work on our chemistry with each other, so we can get to know each other even better than we already do, and it really helps us enjoy running a lot more.”

Derek Vesely of Marathon took 15th place, Brooks Kraus of Athens was 16th, Jaron Gage of Marathon 19th place, Nicholas Pittman of Athens 24th, Dylan Dodson of Marathon 27th, Owen Marks of Marathon 33rd, Connor Sheahan of Athens 36th and Ian Blake of Marathon 37th.

Thurs is highest local girl

Marathon senior Julianna Thurs has been dealing with knee issues this season. She is now back running races again and she took eighth place at the Athens Invite on Thursday in 21:40.2. She helped the Red Raider girls to a fourth-place finish in Athens.

“This was my second meet back; I am so happy to be back and I love the sport more than I could even say,” Thurs said. “I am upset to lose part of my senior year but I am grateful to be able to get over my knee issues and be back running again.”

Brianna Sheahan of Athens took 16th place in 22:32.8. Marathon runners Jada Prihoda placed 19th, Laci Hoeksema 21st, McKinnley Marks 24th, Calyse Fieri 36th and Shilo Blake 37th.

Julianna Thurs believes she still has a good shot to qualify for state this season as an individual runner and also as a member of Marathon’s girls team.

“I think if everybody pushes themselves to the best of their abilities, that we definitely have a shot at making it to state this year,” Thurs said.

Athens, Edgar, Marathon and Stratford cross country runners will compete in the Marawood Conference championships at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 14, in Phillips. The WIAA Division 3 sectional championships will take place on Saturday, Oct. 23, at Erbach Park in Athens. The sectional boys race will start at 3 p.m. and the girls race begins at 4 p.m. on Oct. 23 in Athens.

The WIAA state cross country championships will be held the following week on Saturday, Oct. 30, at the Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids.