Central cross country battling fatigue and injuries
By Willis Patenaude, Times-Register
Central cross country continued to produce results, but slowed a bit this past week, as the schedule and injuries to key runners caught up to the team.
The Sept. 6 Clayton Ridge Invitational went well despite the loss of top runner Hannah Asche, who continues to nurse a sore hip, causing her to miss both meets last week. In her absence, the girls still managed to finish third in the standings, well ahead of fourth place MFL MarMac, but also well behind second place Sumner-Fredericksburg.
The available runners shined, with all running course or career bests, including top-finishing Jaydin Dettman, who crossed the line fourth in a course best 21:18. Delaney Scherf was the other top runner, finishing 13th with a course best time of 23:35.
Both runners were the only medalists for Central, but the team added two more top-20 runners in Reese Berns and Eva Embretson. The two finished 18th and 19th, respectively, and ran course best times. Haley Frieden finished the race 23rd, running a career best 25:31.
In the boys race, Central finished fifth as a team with a score of 116. Gavin Holst medaled again with a fifth place finish in a course best 18:41. Tate Berns also achieved a course best time, running a 24:38, which was good for 39th place.
Other Central runners included Collin Jaster in 27th, Caden Fette in 31st, and Vaughn Zittergruen in 34th.
The following meet, the Sept. 8 Bob Scott Invitational at North Fayette Valley, didn’t produce as many season best performances, which coach Martha Bauder blamed on the heat and fatigue of the Tuesday/Thursday meet schedule.
The Warriors were again without Asche, and Eva Embretson was unable to finish the race due to cramping, so the girls’ sixth place finish did not measure up to expectations. However, there was a surprising return, as Taylor Moser, who previously decided not to compete, came back to the team. Bauder could only guess as to why Moser made the decision, but her presence is expected to be a boost.
Central’s leading runner was once again Dettman, who finished fifth in a course personal record time of 21:30, while Scherf finished 13th in 23:36. Both runners medaled.
Moser, in her first race back, was the next highest finisher, crossing in 36th with a time of 26:17. Bauder expects that time to drop under 22:00 as the season progresses. Berns was close behind Moser in 37th, as was Coral Rork in 39th.
The boys, led by medalist Holst’s 10th place finish, were eighth in the overall team standings. Fette was the next Warrior to cross, coming in 52nd, followed by Zittergruen in 56th, Berns in 72nd, Bryce Heller in 79th and Declan Finley in 88th. Michael White ran a season and career best time of 27:38.
Despite the injuries and fatigue, Bauder adamantly declared, “We know we’ll be ready to bounce back for our home meet on Thursday.”
The Sept. 15 home race at the Elkader Country Club will be the Warriors’ only run for the week.