Cross Country teams head to Regional Meet in Bismarck
By Neal A. Shipman
Farmer Editor
Watford City’s cross country teams had a very good showing at the Rugby Meet on Saturday as the Wolves participated in their last meet before the Regional Meet this Saturday. And according to Greg Brown, Wolves’ head coach, his teams are peaking at just the right time.
“It was a very exciting weekend for our runners,” states Brown. “Many of our runners set personal bests this past weekend in Rugby. It was exciting to watch how hard each and every runner is working and seeing that the training is getting the athletes to where we need to be.”
The Watford City boys varsity team placed fifth at Rugby with Braedon Gumke and Devin Schmitz placing in the top 25. Gumke placed 20th in a time of 18:40, while Schmitz came in 21st in 18:44.
“On the boys side we are starting to see huge improvements with our times and getting close to ranked teams in the state,” states Brown. “As I look through meet results, I see that the teams that are beating us that are ranked are only one or two runners ahead of our boys. They are working hard and we are starting to see it pay off.”
Also placing for the boys team was Michael Brown, 34th, 19:15; Logan Gumke, 42nd, 19:39; Dakota Garmann, 54th, 20:05; Cole McGorman, 63rd, 20:34; Dillon Smith, 67th, 20:44; Osman Leon, 70th, 20:48; Jack Gillespey, 71st, 20:48; Cody Kirkland, 92nd, 22:55; and Trevor Alveshere, 99th, 24:22.
On the girls varsity side, Asha Smith led the Wolves with a second place finish with a time of 15:10, while Addison Sundeen placed 61st in 18:10 and Ricki Lindley placed 88th with a time of 19:23.
“The girls ran very well with many setting personal bests also,” states Brown. “They are also working hard. They are running well and running relaxed.”
In the junior high girls division, Chelsea Cryer placed 19th in 14:21, while Cauy Hartel took 22nd in 13:57 in the junior high boys division.
The Wolves will now be competing in the Regional Meet this Saturday at McDowell Dam in Bismarck.
“I look for fast times as we go into the Regional Meet at McDowell Dam in Bismarck,” predicts Brown. “We have run very fast there in past years and I look for us to really open up on that course late in the year. It looks like it should be great weather for the meet and should be very good competition.”
The Wolves will then close out their regular season action at the Killdeer Meet on Monday, Oct. 14.