By Becca Van Schepen –

There was a pleasant greeting for the Eagle cross country team as they arrived at their meet in Montevideo on Tuesday, October 4.  For the first time this season, the Eagles were welcomed to the golf course with a pep band!  If a little Eye of the Tiger and Final Countdown can get a basketball or volleyball team pumped up, why not bring it to cross country as well?

            In Montevideo, both the varsity and JV teams ran an identical 5K race, traversing the relatively flat course.  27 runners participated in the girls’ varsity race.  Shaylee Van Essen and Olivia Muyskens continue to lead the SWC/E girls varsity team.  Van Essen (23:33) and Muyskens (24:27) finished in 9th and 11th respectively.  Crossing the finish line in 14th place was Alexia VanderPol, finishing with a time of 25:48.  Next through the chute for the Eagles was Kalli Blom (26:54) claiming 18th place.  Kylee Brands (20th) completed the course in 27:11, and Zoe Nonginthirath (27:30) took 22nd place. 

Annaliese Wood from Central MN Christian claimed the girls’ varsity title, running a 21:34.  With it being a smaller meet, there were only three full teams competing.  The top girls’ varsity team was Central MN Christian with 19 points.  SWC/E came in 2nd with a team total of 48 points.  Finishing in 3rd for team points was Benson/KMS with 55.

The boys’ varsity race included 36 participants.  The top Eagle harrier was Mason Hamm finishing in 12th place with a time of 19:41.  In 18th place, Gabe Vis finished with a time of 20:13.  Eli Van Iperen (21:43) took 32nd place. 

Winning the boys’ varsity race was Brady Andrews from Montevideo, completing the course in 17:57.  The SWC/E boys’ varsity did not have a complete team (5 runners) at this meet.  Team point champion was Montevideo with 37 team points.