Cross Country Preview

The 2018 cross country season, as it pertains to Fillmore County, could be called the Year of O’Hare.  LARP sophomore Luke O’Hare dominated the section in the regular season, then won both the TRC the Section 1A meets on his way to a state tournament appearance.  His LARP team was TRC runner-up (to PEM) and took fourth (of 22) at the section meet.  They again look to be one of the 1A’s top teams.  In addition to O’Hare (Jr.), coach Matt Kingsbury returns 2018 section top 50 finishers Ricky Buchanon (Sr. 38th), Mitchell Ledebuhr (Sr. 40th), and Tyler Rislov (So. 44th).  Aleric Frick (Jr. 55th) finished just outside the top 50 (of a 152-man field).   Rislov (14th) and Buchanon (18th) joined O’Hare in finishing top 18 at the TRC Meet.  LARP did graduated state-qualifier Aidan Ellinghuysen.  On the girls’ side, team Rush Creek was short of a full team most of last year.  But a couple 7th grade call-ups allowed LARP to run complete late in the season.   The gals took 6th (of 9) at the TRC Meet, 13th (of 20 complete) at sections.  Ellie Ekern (8th, 37th), Hannah Linder (Jr. 38th), and Lauren Honken (8th, 39th) each finished top 40 at sections (of 136).  The trio went 13th, 19th, and 17th respectively at the TRC Meet.  Grace Buchanon (Fr.) and Jennessa Larson (Sr.) are a pair of other key returnees.  Chatfield had its boys take 5th (TRC Meet) and 11th (1A Meet), the girls and 5th (TRC) and 9th (1A) last year.  Freshman Aletta Strande highlighted the Gopher action, taking 9th (TRC Meet) and 15th (1A Meet).  She paced a girls group which also features Bea Martin (Sr.), Katelyn Dornack (So.), and Abbi Gillespie (So.).  Martin (41st) and Gillespie (48th) finished top 50 at sections, Martin (15th) and Dornack (20th) top 20 at the TRC Meet.  Tessa McMahon (So.) also returns.  She led the Gophers with 24th (1A) and 7th place (TRC) finishes in 2017.  On the boys’ side, freshman Treyten Lanning was the top Gopher, as he finished 43rd (1A) and 19th (TRC).  Evan Wright (Jr.), Alex Wright (Jr.), and Brady Woltz (Sr.) are a trio of other key Gopher returnees.  Former assistant coach Jayna Harstad takes over for Chris Frye at the helm of the Chatfield program.  LFC’s girls took 10th (1A) and 5th (TRC) at last year’s two big meets, the boys 19th (1A) and 10th (TRC).  Ellen Cullen’s top runner (when healthy) is Kaylee Arndt (Jr.), who battled injuries last season, but returned to take 23rd at sections.  Brielle Ruen (So.) also finished top 50 at sections (49th), top 25 at the TRC Meet (25th).  Addie Miner (Fr.) and Lauren Brogle (8th) are a couple other key returnees.  LFC boys didn’t have a runner in the top 75 at sections.  Finally, Kingsland boys took 20th (1A) and 11th (TRC), the girls 19th (1A) and incomplete (TRC).  Susan Mettler is the top returner (24th at TRC Meet, 59th at sections).  The Knights are coached by Erin Milz.