The Luverne cross country team started the 2023 season participating in the Beresford, South Dakota, XC Invite Friday, Aug. 25.
Luverne was among 30 teams invited to the event at the Bridges Golf Course.
“I was super proud of each and every runner today that had the courage to stand on the starting line and test their limits,” said Luverne head coach Peter Janiszeski.
The Cardinals had six Top 20 performances (medalists) for the day and two individual event champions.
Owen Janiszeski took first in the boys’ varsity 5,000 meter and Jenna DeBates took first in the girls’ varsity 5,000 meter.
The Cardinals took second place as a team in the boys’ varsity 5,000-meter event with a team score of 85 behind Sioux Falls Christian’s score of 53.
Cardinal runners and times are as follows:
1st. Junior Owen Janiszeski 15:54.30
6th. Senior Ryan Fick 16:46.50
18th. Junior Sage Viessman 17:31.34
28th. Freshman Marcus Papik 18:11.72
34th. Junior Leif Ingebretsen 18:36.56
36th. Junior Dylan Ommen 18:51.26
41st. Senior Zach Terrio 19:08.42
46th. Junior Kaleb Hemme 19:42.05
In the girls’ varsity 5,000-meter event, the Luverne had just two runners.
1st. Senior Jenna DeBates 18:27.02
35th. Freshman Khloe Visker 22:25.42
In the boys’ junior varsity 4,000-meter event, the Cardinals had two runners participate.
35th. Junior Eli McLendon 17:07.56
94th. Sophomore Zander Fountain 19:33.89
In the girls’ junior varsity 4,000-meter event the Cardinals finished eighth as a time with five runners competing.
19th. Freshman Reinha John 19:12.72
36th. Freshman Mariah Knorr 20:51.59
57th. Senior Brynn Boyenga 22:39.79
68th. Junior Andrea Luitjens 25:36.75
79th. Sophomore Maddy Schepel 28:13.34
The Luverne cross country team will travel to Mountain Lake Friday, Sept. 1, for the Paul Metcalf Invitational at the Mountain Lake Golf Course.
Other invited teams are Adrian/Ellsworth, Fairmont, St. James Area, United South Central and the host, Mt. Lake Area-Comfrey.