Mendota Heights Runners Trail Just Behind Classic Suburban Conference Title

The boys and girls cross country teams and the boys cross country team competed in the Classic Suburban Conference championships on Tuesday at St. Croix Bluffs.

Sibley girls and boys placed second and fourth, respectively, while the Cadets placed second.

The Warriors girls trailed Mahtomedi for the conference crown. Mahtomedi finished with 38 points, and the Sibley girls finished with 78.

The Warriors’ top finishers crossed the line together. Junior Alecia Olsen led the way for the Warriors, finishing in 16:31.2. Junior Laura Rice (16:32.6) finished 12th, sophomore Sydney Latterell (16:46.7) took 13th and eighth-grader Laura Benick (16:46.9) took 14th.

Deme Cooper (17:01.4) took 18th, Kirby Steffens (18:15.2) took 33rd and Emily Larson (18:22.0) finished 34th.

"It was about where we thought the boys and girls would probably be able to place if we had the best day we could have," said Sibley Coach Erik Kluznik. He described the girls as “very tight-knit emotionally” and said their group finish shows the support they provide each other while racing.

Cadets take second

The STA varsity boys squad finished second overall at the CSC championships, finishing with 60 points and trailing only Mahtomedi’s 50 points at the event. 

 “We knew we had our hands full and it certainly made an exciting race of it,” said Coach Todd Hierlmaier of the competition Mahtomedi posed.

Junior Killian Brackey took fifth overall at 17:23.7 to lead the way. William Sosniecki (17:34.3) took seventh overall, Henry Dalsin (17:54.8) took 15th, Joe McGraw (17:56.9) took 16th and William Fenelon (17:58.5) took 17th. Peter Farley (17:59.6) took 18th and Steve Malmgren (18:31.7) took 31st.

 “The story I’d say of the day, at least as far as we were concerned: the St. Thomas Academy JV team really coming through,” Hierlmaier added.

The STA JV team took the top three spots and scored a conference-low 21 points. “That was really a notable performance,” said Hierlmayer.

Sibley Places 4th

Henry Sibley finished fourth with 117 points in the boys race.

For Henry Sibley, senior Cruz Barrera took second overall with a 16:59.5 time. He finished behind Simley’s Max Wellens’ time of 16:41.8.

Kluznik said the fourth place finish shows marked improvement over the course of the season for the boys.

Sam Meyer (18:02.7) finished 20th, Mark Rosno (18:16.9) took 25th and Mark Dosh (18:38.9) took 33rd. Will Deitchler (18:48.9) took 37th, Joe Dill (18:54.3) took 39th and Patrick Holeck (20:11.6) finished 56th.

Section competition is scheduled for Oct. 26 at the University of Minnesota Les Bolstad Golf Course.