Knight Runner Stands Out at LFC’s Meet

A year ago at the Section 1A Meet, Kingsland freshman Garrison Hubka was his team’s top runner.  He finished 78th in a time of 19:19.1.  In his first 5,000-meter run of the year, that time flew by the wayside.  The sophomore won his second race in as many tries (17:40), finishing nearly a minute ahead of his nearest competitor.  It was a notably quick run for Hubka.  Just a week earlier, on the same flat course at Fillmore County’s Fairgrounds in Preston, LARP stand-outs Luke O’Hare (17:27) and Tyler Rislov (17:39) were just a few seconds faster.  Hubka was close to very good company, as O’Hare and Rislov took first and fifth at sections last year.  Hubka’s 17:40 time would’ve been top 15 at last year’s 1A Meet (albeit, that is more challenging, hilly course).  As for the rest of the two team meet, LFC’s Carson Ruen (18:34) came in second for the boys.  Knight Cole Kruegel (19:25) was third.  LFC runners Jeremy O’Connor (20:05) and Riley Serfling (20:26) took fourth and fifth.  Ellen Cullen’s group (25) beat Erin Milz’s Knights (34) in the team competition.  Thirty boys competed.  On the girls’ side, after finishing second her first run of the year, Burro Brielle Ruen (22:39) took first.  It was her first ever varsity cross country first.  The junior bested teammates Lilyan Kiehne (23:29) and Addie Miner (23:43), who took second and third.  Kiehne, just a 7th grader, took second in just her second ever cross country race.  Knights Susie Mettler (23:53) and Anika Reiland (24:17) finished fourth and fifth.  Twenty girls competed.  The Burros (19) also won the girl’s team competition over Kingsland (42).  LFC’s only junior or senior to finish in their top seven was Ruen.  Each event was held at Fillmore County Fairgrounds.