Jared Schmeltzer
Reporter
The Merrill cross country team traveled to Nine Mile Recreation Area in Wausau on Thursday night, Sept. 5, to compete in the Marathon meet. The teams would have to wait out a rain storm before starting, which forced the boys and girls teams to run at the same time. Both the boys and the girls teams would finish in fifth place as a team, out of eight schools running at the meet.
“Despite the weather and having an hour delay before the race, our team ran exceptionally well.” said Merrill head coach Alyssa Swan. “A lot of our athletes improved from the last race in Rhinelander.”
On the boys side, Merrill’s Dominic Laufenberg took fourth place overall, running a time of 18:06. The Jay’s Ethan Cordova finished only five seconds later, running a time of 18:11 for a sixth place finish. Kyle Stellingworth ran a time of 19:56, for a 27th place finish. Levi Black was right behind Stellingworth. running a time of 19:59 for 28th place. Tanner Depies rounded out Merrill’s top five runners, finishing in 32nd place, with a time of 20:15.
“This race we were excited to have Elizabeth Schimdt back,” said coach Swan. “She placed first for Merrill and first overall for the girl’s race with a time of 20:11.”
Schmidt not only won her race, but the sophmore runner dominated the competition, beating the second place runner by just over a minute. Freshman runner, Madi Crossman finished in 30th place, with a time of 24:45.4, barely beating teammate Anika Bartz who ran a time of 24:45.6. Emma Marlowe finished fourth for Merrill and 41st overall with a time of 25:49. Annie Becker finished in 42nd place, running a time of 25:50.
On Saturday, Sept. 14, the Merrill cross country team will travel to Standing Rock Park in Stevens Point. Runners will take off at 11:15 a.m.