Raiders achieve a perfect score in girls race; boys 3rd at Dells

MEDFORD CROSS COUNTRY

The Medford Raiders added another impressive accomplishment to their list of many this fall in girls cross country by earning a perfect team score of 15 at Saturday’s five-team Wisconsin Dells Invitational, held at Christmas Mountain Golf Course.

The Raiders claimed the top six individual spots in the 28-runner varsity race, obviously getting the top five scoring spots to compile the sport’s lowest possible team score. With seventh runner, Ella Dassow finishing ninth, it was Medford’s most dominant showing yet in what has been an undefeated season so far on Wisconsin soil.

The Raiders entered the current week as the state’s fifth-ranked Division 2 team in the Wisconsin Cross Country Coaches Association’s state poll.

According to head coach Kevin Wellman, Medford’s girls weren’t in the lead pack early on. But they took over the race about a third of the way in and dominated from there to beat Wisconsin Dells (57), Baraboo (76), Mauston (96) and Nekoosa (incomplete). Wisconsin Dells and Mauston will face Medford again in the Oct. 23 WIAA Division 2 sectional race in Colby. Baraboo is a Division 1 team.

“The ladies were boxed in at the start and hit the quarter-mile in a group that was in roughly eighth place,” Wellman said. “Once the race lengthened out and runners had more room to maneuver, the female Running Raiders went in front of all of them. At the mile mark, the ladies held the first four places, sixth place and two other places in the top 15. By the two mile, the ladies had taken the first five places and were also in 9th and 13th respectively.”

Sophomore Meredith Richter led Medford’s charge with a winning time of 20:59.7. Bryn Fronk was second in 21:22.9, while senior Alexis Fleegel was third with her second consecutive time of 21:38. Senior Jennifer Kahn was right behind her at 21:42.4, while Brooke Rudolph completed the scoring with a fifthplace time of 21:45.7. Sophomore Ella Daniels was sixth in a season-best 22:22.6 and freshman Ella Dassow was ninth in 22:51.1, less than five seconds off her personal- best time.

“Ella Daniels and Ella Dassow ran tremendously and were able to each pass three runners in the last mile,” Wellman said.

Three more girls competed in the 12-runner JV race. Medford’s Joselyn Torres won it in 25:58.8, Natasha Butt was fifth in 28:22.8 and Lydia Way was eighth in 30:26.9. Wisconsin Dells had the only full squad to score 15 team points.

In the boys race, Joe Sullivan found an even rival for the third time in four races. This time, Mauston’s Eli Boppart was that runner and he wound up pulling away and winning it in 16:16.2. Sullivan, who was a bit under the weather all week, finished in 16:33.4, well ahead of third-place runner Tyler Schwartz of Mauston (18:00.3). Raider sophomore Tanner Hraby was fifth in 18:13.9, just behind Daniel Yesipovich of Baraboo (18:10).

Logan Gubser was 14th out of 31 runners in 19:14.7, while Josh Clark was 24th in 19:55.4, 1.1 seconds off his personalbest time. Homecoming king Stephen Hraby was 26th at 20:28.6, Nick Steliga was 28th in 21:12.2 and Lucas Borman got under 24 minutes for the second time in three races, taking 30th in 23:42.5.

Mauston edged Baraboo 36-41 to win the team trophy, followed by Medford (68), Wisconsin Dells (80) and Nekoosa (incomplete).

Crunch time has now arrived for the Running Raiders, who will next compete Saturday in the Great Northern Conference championships, hosted by Lakeland. The first race is set for 11 a.m. at Minocqua Winter Park. Medford is the favorite as it aims to win the program’s fifth straight girls championship. Tomahawk is seeking its third straight boys championship with Rhinelander and possibly Medford being the most likely challengers for the Hatchets.

“(Saturday) was a great day,” Wellman said. “An unseen highlight was the athletes on the bus hanging out and spending time with each other. We have been transformed from a collection of runners to a team and we are now a running family.”