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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 | BRAINERD DISPATCH
BRAINERDDISPATCH.COM
GIRLS CROSS-COUNTRY
Warriors poised for a strong showing By Jeremy Millsop Brainerd Dispatch Brainerd hile all the news was on the state-bound Warrior boys team, the Brainerd girls team was quietly making a name for itself. Brainerd finished fourth in the Central Lakes Conference last season and matched that finish in the Section 8-3A meet. The Warriors did finish with invite wins at the Greenway Invite and Pierz Stampede. But the best thing about last year’s team was all but one of the runners were underclassmen. The Warriors bring back six of the seven girls from the section meet including state qualifier Madi Miller. A sophomore, Miller finished 68th in the state meet with a 19:53.68. She qualified with a seventh-place time of 20:03.7 in the section meet and earned allconference honors with her 15th-place time of 20:03.8. “She’s looked very good early on,” Warriors head coach Dave Herath said. “She’s done quite a few triathlons this summer so her 5 kilometers at the end of those have been about as good as she ended last season. Throw in a little swim and bike before the run and I can’t wait to see what she can do running. She had a very good summer training and really learned a lot during the track season.” Senior Hannah Drietz came out on fire in her first season in crosscountry. She ran to a 24th place finish in the conference for allconference honorable mention honors and was 32nd in the section meet. Her efforts earned her the rookie of the year title along with freshman Annelise Baird. “Hannah just loves to run and is coming off a stress fracture that with
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Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch
The Brainerd Warriors cross-country girls go for a training run on Tuesday at Adamson Field.
WARRIOR ROSTER
Miller
Seniors: Emily Bastian, Hannah Drietz, Katelyn Kennedy, Ashton Kubista, Julia Rademacher Juniors: Bridget Collins, Annie Geary, Anja Storbakken Sophomores: Madi Miller, Bridget Wells, Brooke Wenz Freshmen: Annelise Baird, Annimarie Cady, Addison Lillo, Danika Ramler
“If we can continue to be healthy, this has the potential to be one of our best teams that we’ve ever had.” HEAD COACH DAVE HERATH any other athlete you wonder, but she crosstrains so well,” Herath said. “I would guess she maybe missed a beat, but not much. She learned a lot last fall and last spring about how to race in races. She’s looked very good this fall and we kind of have a lot of the health things figured out with our girls so we’re very hopeful she’ll be able to end the season with a bang.” Sophomore Brooke Wenz placed 12th at sections with a 20:32.9. She was 26th in the conference meet.
“Brooke has trained more this summer than the last two summers combined,” Herath said. Baird was the No. 4 runner for Brainerd at sections. She finished 20th with a 20:50.6. “She’s a multi-sport kid and they learn a lot from every single season that they’re in,” Herath said. “Last year as a first-year high school runner for us and there was a lot to take in, but she was successful. I’m really looking for that next step this year. She’s coming in very fit and she’s just a very super
WARRIOR SCHEDULE Friday, Sept. 2: Run for the Melon, Forestview 10 a.m. Sept. 8: in Greenway/ Nashwauk-Keewatin invite at Grand Rapids 4 p.m. Sept. 16: at Bemidji Invite 4 p.m. Sept. 19: in Pierz Stampede at Pierz Golf Course 4:15 p.m.
competitive kid.” Junior Bridget Collins battled health issues earlier in the season but posted a 23rd-place time of 21:15.7 at sections. “I think this year will be very similar to last year for Bridget,” Herath said. “Her health is considerably better, but she doesn’t have the base that she’s had in years past so she’s working her way back into that lineup. Every day she looks a little bit better. I think midseason you’ll see her reemerge with our varsity but we’re building her up slowly.” Julia Rademacher was the other returning
Sept. 23: in Roy Griak Invite at University of Minnesota Oct. 3: at St. MichaelAlbertville Invite 4 p.m. Oct. 11: at St. Cloud Invite 3 p.m. Oct. 18: in Central Lakes Conference meet at Fergus Falls 4 p.m. Oct. 27: in Section 8-3A meet at Bemidji Nov. 5: in State Meet at St. Olaf University
section runner. She finished 28th in 21:40.8. She placed 30th in the conference meet just ahead of Katelyn Kennedy who also returns. She’ll be the top candidate to fill in for the graduated Lily Schaeffer. “Julia has been very
consistent all along,” Herath said. “She’s a great thinker. She thinks about her races and I can’t wait to see how she does in her senior year. She’s ready to go and has always been a solid runner for us and I think she’s ready to take the next step and excel this year. “Katelyn kind of had a breakout track season. She made our honor roll in the mile and she has looked fantastic. Emily (Bastian) was a great long sprinter for us in the 400 and 800 for track. She is looking great, too. She was one of our top JV runners last year and she’s looking to make her mark on the varsity as well.” The Central Lakes Conference meet will be at Fergus Falls this season while the section meet will be in Bemidji. “It all hinges on being healthy,” Herath said. “If we can continue to be healthy, this has the potential to be one of our best teams that we’ve ever had. We’re in a very strong conference. Maybe the top one or two girls cross-country conferences in the state with Alexandria, Willmar, Rocori and some individuals from all the other schools. If we come out of the conference in the top two or three we’re pretty good. That will set us up pretty good come section and hopefully state time.” JEREMY MILLSOP may be reached at 855-5856 or jeremy.millsop@ brainerddispatch.com. Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ jeremymillsop.
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