September 19, 2012

Cross country teams compete at Mandan

By Neal A. Shipman
Farmer Editor

Watford City’s cross country teams continued to improve their individual times as the Wolves competed this past Saturday in the Mandan Kiwanis meet.
The girls team took ninth place with Asha Smith finishing in eighth place in a meet that featured some of the state’s best Class A and Class B runners.
“We have now passed mid-season and are still working hard,” stated Greg Brown, Wolves’ head coach. “Last week, with Homecoming, was a tough week for the athletes. Cross Country is a very mental sport and by Saturday of Homecoming week, the athletes are tired mentally and physically, but they still performed extremely well in Mandan running against the Class A teams.”
At Mandan, Asha Smith turned in a time of 15:36 to lead the Wolves’ girls team, while Nicole Rasmussen finished in 14th place with a time of 15:58.
Also placing for the girls team was Addison Sundeen, 67th, 17:59; McKayla Haugeberg, 74th, 18:38; Lea Arndt, 76th, 18:42; Tara Loomer, 78th, 19:06; Hayley Moe, 85th, 19:49; and Kara Wold, 86th, 19:58.
In the varsity boys division, Guy Ross was the top Watford City finishers with a 33rd place finish in a time of 17:52.
Other Watford City runners were Dustin Kleppen, 77th, 19:26; Logan Gumke, 79th, 19:28; Devin Schmitz, 93rd, 20:46; Joseph Rasmussen, 96th, 21:44; Ted Ramage, 97th, 22:10; Michael Brown, 100th, 22:19; Braedon Gumke, 104th, 23:04; and Josh Segneri, 105th,  24:14.
“Both teams are competing extremely well and working hard,” stated Brown. “A coach can never give these athletes enough praise for how hard they work day in and day out.”
On Thursday, the junior high boys team pulled off a team first as they swept the top five places at the Tioga Invitational.
Cole Garmann won the meet with a time of 12:33 with Devin Schmitz taking second with a time of 12.44. Completing the sweep for the Wolves was Braedon Gumke, 3rd, 12:49; Hunter DeFoe, 4th, 13:34; and Cale Bandelin, 5th, 13:43, while Dakota Garmann finished seventh with a time of 13:52.

WATFORD CITY WEATHER