September 16, 2009

Girls cross country team takes 7th at Mandan meet

By Neal A. Shipman
Farmer Editor

Watford City’s varsity girls cross country team took seventh place coming in behind five Class A schools at the Mandan Cross Country Meet on Saturday, Sept. 12.
Sibee Jokela paced the Watford City runners placing in 11th place with a time of 15:41. Other Watford City runners placing were Kade Ross, 14th, 15:53; Stephanie Deutsch, 42nd, 16:52; and Kristen Stenehjem, 78th, 18:15.
“I felt all of our runners ran well,” stated Greg Brown, Wolves’ head coach. “There were a lot of athletes competing in Mandan on a very flat course. The girls team ended up in 7th place using a ghost runner for their fifth runner. So that tells me that we have many runners placing high, and working hard to compete.”
In the boys junior varsity division, the Wolves finished in 21st place with Jeremiah Beard taking 40th with a time of 20:04 and Ben Gumke taking 82nd with a time of 22:41.
In the boys junior high division, Logan Gumke took 40th with a time of 13:14 and Riley McCarthy placed 65th in a time of 14:23.
“With both boys teams, they had to use three ghost runners so that is why they end up falling to the lower team scores,” stated Brown. “I still feel that everyone is working very hard, and after taking times on Saturday, we have found some weaknesses that we will start addressing over the next few weeks as we build towards our State Meet.”
The next action for the cross country team will be on Saturday, Sept.  19 when the Wolves travel to Valley City. Watford City will then host a cross country meet on Tuesday, Sept. 22.

WATFORD CITY WEATHER