Three qualify for state; bad weather takes toll on runners

Try and imagine the most miserable running conditions possible. That’s what over 200 runners and numerous fans had to endure Thursday at the Section 3A Cross Country meet.
And the up to 40 mile per hour, 30-degree winds whipping across the wide-open Madison Golf Course made it not only miserable, but difficult and dangerous for the runners.
Snow was expected on Friday and the state qualifiers had to be reported by Saturday. So with little choice but to hold the meet, the show went on — but not without disasterous results.
Canby-Minneota runner Faith Traen didn’t finish. “I saw her wobble, then fall,” said one C-M runner who was behind Traen.
She had to be treated and checked by EMT’s in an ambulance. Apparently the weather conditions and other elements caused her to collapse on the course.
Luverne easily won the meet with Lac qui Parle Valley/Dawson-Boyd in second. The Canby-Minneota runners finished in fourth and did not qualify for state.
But there was more. Up to a dozen, or more girl runners collapsed at the finish line and had to be moved out with more runners filing in.
“I’ve never seen anything like it. I know we had to get them out of the way, but I was a mess. I don’t know how many fell,” said a meet helper who was at the finish line.
Madie Schandelmeier, a Luverne senior, followed by teammate Regan Feit took the title. Schandelmeier finished in 19:22.3.
Not far behind was Canby-Minneota’s Grace Drietz in 19:57.9.
Luverne got 10th; 11th and 19th-place finishes to easily capture the meet.
The Cards had seven competitors finish with sub-22 minute times.
Luverne’s Pete Janiszeski, a Minneota native was named the 'Section’s Coach of the Year'.
Canby-Minneota’s McKenzie Ruether came in sixth and in so doing qualified for the state meet.
The chances to qualify for a team were hurt by the fact the next finisher, Kalli Jelen was in 31st place followed by a 33rd from Makenzie Hemish and 44th from Cameron King, plus Traen’s not finishing.

As for Traen, she was treated by EMT's in the ambulance with her parents on hand. Her vital signs were all good and she walked away from the meet on her own accord.

It was a difficult time for Traen, dealing with the fact she didn't finish and the health issue. But her parents indicated they were happy see was physically OK.

The inspirational moment of the day was turned in by Mountain Lake Area’s Liana Blomgren, who stopped to help a competitor who had collapsed in front of her in the final stretch.
With less than 100 meters to go, Windom’s Gracie Bucher fell to the ground in exhaustion.

Liana Blomgren of Mt. Lake Area was behind her and stopped to make sure she was okay.
She helped her to her feet and assisted the eight grader to the finish line.
Both competitors were just behind the cut line for state at the time but the senior’s act of kindness earned a disqualification for her and for Bucher.

Girls Results:

1. Luverne 42
2. Lac qui Parle Valley/Dawson-Boyd 70
4. Canby-Minneota 114
5. Murray County Central/Fulda 160
7. Wabasso 222
10. Tracy-Milroy-Balaton 278
20. Yellow Medicine East 549
Medalist: Madi Schandelmeier, Luverne, 19:22.3
Canby-Minneota: 3. Grace Drietz, 19:57.9 (qualified for state); 6. McKenzie Ruether, 20:22.2 (state qualifier); 31. Kalli Jelen 22:10.4; 33. MaKenzie Hemish, 22:14.1; 44. Kameron King, 22:39.7. Others: 44. Kameron King, 22:39.7; 77. Rachel Wollum, 23:39.01.

C-M’s Anthony Wollum came in eighth overall and qualified for state, top put three runners into the big meet at St. Olaf College in Northfield.

The C-M boys finished third as Lac qui Parle Valley-Dawson Boyd won the meet with Keiser Freetly leading the way with teammate Mike Kvall right behind him in second place.

or LQPV/DB, Keiser Freetly and Mike Kvall took first (17:04.53) and second (17:12.52), respectively, while Zeke Sather came in 12th with a time of 18:01.79 and Stephen Martin took 25th with a time of 18:35.4.

Alexander Full ran perhaps his best race of year and was the second Canby-Minneota runner to finish. He came in 21st with teammate Jared Josephson right behind him in 22nd place. The final two qualifiers for Canby-Minneota were Jalyn Ufkin in 33rd and Blake Stoks in 38.

The C-M runners didn't have Sean Dilley, who had been away attending a grandparent's illness. He returned to be on hand, but was not ready to run.

Boys Results:
1.. Windom 69
2. LqPV/Dawson-Boyd 100
3. Canby-Minneota 128
6. Murray Co. Central 173
8. Luverne 210
13. Lakeview 351
17. Yellow Medicine East 453
18. Wabasso 530
Incomplete: Tracy-Milroy-Balaton
Medalist: Keiser Freetly, 17:04.5
Canby-Minneota: 8. Anthony Wollum, 17:45.4 (qualified for state); 21. Alexander Full, 17:45.41; 22. Jared Josephson, 18:32.06; 33. Jalyn Ufkin, 18:41.37; 48. Blake Stoks, 19:21.7. Others: 59. Nolan Harding, 19:49.28; 90. ZachHansen, 21:06.3.