With a short turn around from their cross country meet at Pocahontas, the Jaguars cross country teams headed to Lake City on Tuesday, October 6th for the Brian Knapp Invitational. Tuesday found the Jaguars facing warmer and breezy October weather and a hilly course. While the times weren’t the fastest of the year, the Southeast Valley teams continued to improve their placings in the meet finding a total of 6 varsity and 2 JV medalists.

The boys team once again found five medalists in the meet on their way to a runner-up finish as a team with 88 points. Denison Schleswig was the team champion with 39 points while Greene County was 4 points behind the Jaguars with 92 points. Conference foe Sioux Central was fourth with 106 points.

The five medalists for the boys were Owen Nuss, 9th (18:43), August Akins 17th, (19:19), Griffin Vote, 20th (19:27), Kasen Loeffler, 21st (19:36) and Landon Vote, 25th (19:50). Grant Peterson was the sixth Jaguar to cross the finish line in 30th place (20:08) and Wyatt Blair was 41st (20:50).

In the girls’ race, Emily Wilson earned her first career medal. Emily finished 18th overall in a time of 24:16. Freshman Aleeyah Hoefer just missed her finish medal when her time of 25:43 was 26th. Ruby Stimpson was close behind in 28th place in a time of 26:10. Charlie Dorsey and Adelle Fors was the next two Jaguars to finish in 26:48 and 27:16 respectively for 32nd and 38th place. Finishing in 50th place overall was Meia Hefley (30:06).

The six girls continued to climb in the team race, finishing 6th overall with 125 points ahead of Twin Lakes Conference teams South Central Calhoun and East Sac County. Denison-Schleswig completed the team sweep winning the girls’ race with 45 points while Emmetsburg was 2nd with 78 points.

In the JV results, Jackson Bintz and Henry Sandstrom both earned medals by finishing 3rd and 4th place overall. Jackson finished the 5k course in 21:09, while Henry crossed the finish shortly after in 21:14. Turner Ahlers (25:03) edged Carter Lloyd (25:04) for 30th and 31st, while Mason Newell was close behind in 32nd running 25:07. Eli Rude was 34th in 25:36.

Moses Cunigan (43rd, 29:13), Jacob Wicklein and Max Judson (48th, 32:48) and Jace Skoglund (51st, 41:38) rounded out the Jaguars line-up in Tuesday’s meet.

The Jaguars will run their final regular season meet this Thursday, October 15th at Pocahontas in the Twin Lakes Conference meet at Pocahontas. The Twin Lakes Conference meet will have all high school and junior high runners competing. Varsity runners will compete at the class 2A state qualifying meet on Thursday, October 22nd to try and qualify for the state cross country meet.