Amazing Grace
The well-known hymn goes, “Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound” ....
Last year, seventh grader Grace Drietz amazed the track world by placing eighth and earning a medal at the State Class A Track Meet in the mile run at 5:20.34.
Now at the ripe old age of an eighth grader, Drietz posted notice she’s also going to turn some heads in cross country.
Tuesday, she won the girls’ Lakeview Invitational and led her young team to a team victory with a time of 21:30.
Because Friday’s Night Meet in Canby was washed out, this has became the season opener for the cross country team.
Despite her young age, Drietz is unfazed by her success, and she said the beautiful day and good course at Cottonwood, “Felt good.” It did get hot, “Especially the last mile,” Drietz said.
If there is one thing Drietz doesn’t enjoy, it’s getting caught in the pack. And she had her own way of taking care of that problem.
“I went out fast because I didn’t want to get caught in the pack.”
After Drietz, came last year’s cross country sensation, McKenzie Ruether in second, Minneota’s Faith Traen in third; Kameron King in sixth and Kalli Jelen in ninth.
C-M won the meet, 20-38 over Wabasso. Nobody was surprised when Canby-Minneota’s Anthony Wollum charged out in front of the boys’ race and rode his own momentum to the finish line for a victory.
But unlike the girls, the boys found out where one of their competitors lie but they still beat Redwood Valley of Redwood Falls. Minneota’s Jared Josephson established himself as a solid force to be dealt with.
After a successful track season, Josephson came out for cross country and made his mark by finishing third for Canby-Minneota and seventh overall.
Zach Hansen was second for C-M with Sean Dilley fourth and in eight place overall. Jalyn Ufkin was fifth for C-M.
Invitational at Cottonwood
Girls 1. Canby-Minneota 20; 2. Wabasso 48; 3. Redwood Valley 72; Yellow Medicine East incomplete; Lakeview incomplete.
Canby-Minneota: 1. Grace Drietz, C-M; 2. McKenzie Ruether, C-M; 3. Faith Traen, 22:13; 6. Kameron King, C-M, 23:31; Kalli Jelen, C-M; , C-M, 24:09. Others: 11. MacKenzie Hemish, C-M, 24:22; 17. Delaney Houseman, C-M, 26:16; 18. Rachel Wollum, C-M, 26: 17; Aidyn Bruns, C-M, 27:40; 31. Allison Anderson, C-M, 28:46; 32. Kaylee Leppke, C-M, 29:35 38. Sarah Hansen, C-M, 31:22; 39. Madison Verhelst, C-M31:22; 39. Lauren Jessen, C-M, 32:32; 41. Paige Welsh, C-M, 32:34.
Boys 1. Canby-Minneota 33; 2. Redwood Valley, 38; 3. Lakeview 80; 4. Wabasso 115. 5.Yellow Medicine East 119
Canby-Minneota Boys: 1. Anthony Wollum, C-M, 17:51; 6. Zach Hansen,C-M; 19:16; 7. Jared Josephson, C-M; 19:34; 8. Sean Dilley, C-M, 19:41; 11. Jayln Ufkin, C-M, 20:00. Others: 18. Blake Stoks, C-M, 21:33; 23. Sam Buysse, C-M, 22:06; 27. Zach Waldrum, C-M, 23:02; 28. Tristan Peterson, C-M, 23:02; 29. Alexander Full, 23:10; 34. Jack Nemitz, 23:38; 38. Carter Wente, C-M, 24:39; 40. Isaac Bach, C-M, 24:57.
Mixed 2000 Meter Run: 1. Ethan Schwankl, Lakeview, 8:01; 2. Kaylee Leppke, C-M, 8:55; 4. Gabby Verhelst,C-M, 9:38; 5. Kolton Duis, C-M, 8:42. 9. Colton Ruether, C-M, 8:50.