First Paul Metcalf Invitational in the record books

Wolverines’ Nathan Runck tops in boys run

The Paul Metcalf Invitational Cross Country Meet was held at the Mountain Lake Golf Course this morning (Wednesday, August 30) with a Mountain Lake Wolverine runner first into the chute in the boys 5000-meter run.

Nathan Runck finished the new – and challenging – course in 16:48 to claim the top spot in a field of 130 runners.

The remaining Wolverine boys runners finished as follows:

  • Dalton Piotter – 8th, 17:57.60.
  • Ryan Blomgren – 11th, 18:20.60.
  • Josiah Gardiner – 30th, 19:12.60.
  • Emilio Garcia DelaCruz – 34th, 19:21.10.
  • Emmanuel Fentanez – 41st, 19:36.90.
  • Seth Klassen – 67th, 21:16.70.
  • Phonesaveng Xayachak – 69th, 21:21.20.
  • Dima Hanson – 99th, 22:46.90.
  • Logan Pankonin – 115th, 24:27.60.
  • Paxton Morin – 116th, 24:28.10.

The top five runners (the first five runners finishing from each team are used to tally the team score) gave MLA a third-place team finish with 80 teams. Winning the boys team title was Worthington, with 48 points, followed by Martin County West, third, scoring 70 points. There were 12 complete teams.

For the Wolverine girls, Chloe Klassen was the first finisher, coming in 47th with a time of 24:58.90.

She was followed by:

  • Anika Fast – 59th, 26:45.50.
  • Aura Spry – 68th, 27:50.90.
  • Summer Janzen – 77th, 29:01.90.
  • Jorja Lepp – 80th, 29:51.70.
  • Alina Inthamthirath – 81st, 29:59.60.
  • Kyla Perkins – 94th, 33:37.50.
  • Emma Stade – 97th, 35:53.10.

Murray County Central’s Morgan Gehl finished first in a 5000-meter girls run that sported 100 runners with a time of 19:12.50.

The Fairmont girls claimed the team title, their top five runners scoring 47 points. MLA was 11th with 265 points. There were 11 complete teams.

Participating teams, in addition to host MLA, were Adrian, Fairmont, Jackson County Central (JCC), Lake Crystal/Wellcome Memorial-Nicollet (LCWM-N), Luverne, Madelia-Truman-Granada/Huntley/East Chain (M-T-GHEC), Murray County Central (MCC), Martin County West (MCW), Heron Lake-Okabena (HL-O), United South Central-Alden/Conger (USC-AC) and Windom.

Kyle Blomgren is the Wolverines head coach, with Laura Penner, assistant coach.

Junior High Girls 1600-Meter Run Results
  • MLA was first of three complete teams; 51 runners.
  • Mercedes Saengosoth – 1st, 7:34.30.
  • Tiegan Meyer – 11th, 8:18.60.
  • Kate Janzen – 13th, 8:19.80.
  • Olivia Klassen – 14th, 8:21.90.
  • Jordan Wright – 20th, 8:41.60.
  • Sierra Perkins – 27th, 9:07.20.
  • Shyann Ober – 30th, 9:24.90.
  • Cyenna Voshage Hampel – 42nd, 10:18.40.
  • Kaiya Sayavong – 43rd, 10:29.70.
  • Isabella Louangthilath – 44th, 10:35.10.
Junior High Boys 1600-Meter Run Results
  • Wolverine boys were second of six complete teams (Worthington team finishedfirst); 73 runners with Mikele Walu of Worthington first with a time of 6:35.20.
  • Drayton Klassen – 8th, 7:17.60.
  • Caden Swoboda – 9th, 7:19.60.
  • Ben Bartsch – 15th, 7:32.10.
  • Landon Boldt – 25th, 7:55.30.
  • Luke Klassen – 34th, 8:06.50.
  • Thavien Xayachak – 39th, 8:14.60.
  • Ian Penner – 59th, 9:00.60.
  • Chad Suderman – 60th, 9:00.90.
  • Mark Quiring – 63rd, 9:39.70.
  • Aiden Penner – 69th, 10:40.00.
  • Landon Morin – 73rd, 12:44.70.
Local Cross Country History

 

THIS YEAR, THE Wolverine Invitational Cross Country Meet (earlier known as the Laker Invitational) at the Mountain Lake Golf Course featured a name change. The girls and boys runs have been permanently renamed as the Paul Metcalf Invitational – honoring longtime Mountain Lake Public High School coach for cross country and track-and-field – now retired. And, Metcalf was astride the four-wheeler this morning, leading the runners through all four races.

 

The first home cross country meet for Mountain Lake Public High School (MLHS) was run at Mountain Lake Golf Course in 1972 – boys only. It was the Laker Invitational.

It became the Wolverine Invitational when MLHS paired with Butterfield-Odin Public High School (B-OHS) and the team sports teams were renamed the ML-BO Wolverines. The race remained an invite of the same name after B-OHS left the pairing – and Mountain Lake Christian (MLC) entered and the Mountain Lake Area (MLA) team was formed.

This year – 2017 – begins a new era with new permanent race name – the Paul Metcalf Invitational.

In addition, for the first time, girls and boys runners from Red Rock Central (RRC) will be paired with MLHS and MLC; all three schools competing as the MLA Wolverines.

Metcalf is recognized as the “Father” of Mountain Lake cross country, beginning the sport at MLHS in 1972. He was an active cross country coach and track-and-field coach for 45 years, and continues to assist as a volunteer coach for the MLA Wolverines’ boys basketball team. Metcalf is a member of the Minnesota State Cross Country Coaches Hall of Fame (and the Mountain Lake Public School Athletic Hall of Fame). Over the course of his years at Mountain Lake Public School, Metcalf was an elementary physical education teacher, as well as high school social studies instructor, along with his stint as a boys basketball coach.

Below is a rundown on the winning team(s) and champions from the Mountain Lake meet over the past 45 years:

 

THE WOLVERINES’ NATHAN Runck, left, the top varsity boys runner at the first-ever Paul Metcalf Invitational, meets Gary Bochman, right, the first boys champ ever at the Laker Invitational in 1972 –  and one of the “original six” to introduce the sport at Mountain Lake Public High School.
Photo Gallery of Top 5 MLA Boys, Girls Varsity Runners

 

WOLVERINE NATHAN RUNCK finished the new – and challenging – 5000-meter course in 16:48 to claim the top spot in a field of 130 boys runners.

 

DALTON PIOTTER FINISHED 8th, running the course in 17:57.60.

 

RYAN BLOMGREN WAS 11th with 18:20.60.

 

IN 30TH WITH a time of 19:12.60 was Josiah Gardiner.

 

MLA’S FIFTH RUNNER to finish was Emilio Garcia DelaCruz, who was 34th at 19:21.10.

 

IN THE GIRLS 5000-meter, Chloe Klassen was first in for the Wolverines, finishing 47th with a time of 24:58.90.

 

ANIKA FAST WAS 59th with a run of 26:45.50.

 

THE THIRD MLA finisher was Aura Spry, 68th with 27:50.90.

 

SUMMER JANZEN, RIGHT, was 77th with a time of 29:01.90.

 

THE FIFTH GIRLS finisher for the Wolverines was Jorja Lepp, 80th with 29:51.70.
Facebook Comments

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR