WILLMAR - The Willmar Cardinals swept team laurels at their own invitational on an 80-degree Saturday afternoon, running beside the rolling fairways of the Eagle Creek Golf Club.
Unlike other years, this Willmar invite didn’t have a deep field. Both Cardinal teams will face a better test this coming Saturday at the Alexandria invite, which will have most of the Section 8AA teams, plus ranked teams from the Twin Cities
The No. 1 Cardinals girls placed six of their seven runners in the top nine. Sophomore Jessa Hanson led the squad in fourth place followed in fifth by her sister, senior Samantha Hanson. Jen Dufner of West Fargo placed first in 15:05 on the 4k course.
The Willmar boys put four in the top 20 with Nadir Yusuf first in 16:59 and his Cardinal teammate Ian Thompson second in 17:05. Both are juniors. Willmar’s next two runners in the 5k were eighth-graders Cael Carlson (14th) and Harley Anez (19th).
It was Yusuf’s third win. Thompson, an 800-meter runner on the track, came up from fifth-place in the last half-mile for his best finish this fall, after three meets placing fourth.
“This was a nice win for our boys,” said Willmar head coach Jerry Popp. “We are so young. Everyone behind Nadir and Ian are rookies as far as varsity competion.”
“The hills and warm temps were factors for many runners,” Popp said. “Sam Hanson got in an auto accident earlier in the week and did well under the circumstances.”
The Willmar girls also won the JV and middle school team titles.
Depth is the calling card of the varsity. Jessa Hanson was the third different team member to lead the Card girls in six meets. Kayla Rudie, Sophie Schmitz and Serena Monson have each run near the top of the lineup, depending on the meet.
Boys team: Willmar 53, Jordan 67, Fargo North 87, West Fargo 100, Belle Plaine 101, Hopkins 121 Community Christian 148, Sauk Rapids 245.
Top 10: (1) Nadir Yusuf, Wil, 16:59 (2) Ian Thompson, Wil, 17:05.3 (3) Elijah Herrick, Mhd, 17:15.7 (4) Ben Burgett, CCS, 17:19.2 (5) Eric Wicklund, 11, West Fargo, 17:33.4 (6) Parker Rosenau, West Fargo, 17:50.0 (7) Owen Keiser, Jordan, 17:50.6 (8) Timothy Huss, Jordan, 17:55.5 (9) Alex Luz, Fargo, 18:06.7 (10) John Emerson, West Fargo, 18:13.6
Willmar: Nadir Yusuf, Thompson, Cael Carlson 18:24.6, Harley Anez 18:42, Jack Erickson 18:58, Jared Ruter 19:01.
Community Christian: B. Burgett, Josh Starr 18:49.4, Joel Finsaas 20:09.3, Riley Gardner 20:37.0, Sam Burgett 21:58.7
Girls team: Willmar 30, Moorhead 57, West Fargo 99, Belle Plaine 118, Hopkins 118, Fargo North 129, Sauk Rapids 204, Jordan 207, Community Christian, inc.
Top 10: (1) Janessa Meuleners, BP, 15:11 (2) Mackenzie Kelly, Mhd, 15:15 15:15 (3) Mackenzie Kelly, Mhd, 15:15 (4) Jessa Hanson, Wil, 15:16 (5) Samantha Hanson, Wil, 15:20 (5) Serena Monson, Wil, 15:32 (7) Kayla Rudie, Wil, 15:34 (8) Sophie Schmitz, Wil, 15:39 (9) Heidi Schmitz, Wil, 15:55 (10) Lexi Maddux, Mhd, 16:04
Willmar: J. Hanson, S. Hanson, Monson, Rudie, S. Schmitz, H. Schmitz, (12) Leah Hansen 16:16
Community Christian: (18) Elsie Duininck 16:50 (52) Lizzy Gardner 19:20 (56) Hannah Reid 19:45 (57) Genna Scott 19:49
