ST. CLOUD - Led by sophomore Sophie Schmitz in third place, the Willmar Cardinal girls cross country team won its third straight Central Lakes Conference championship on Tuesday.
In the boys 5k, junior Nadir Yusuf and Alexandria’s Aaron Runge, also a junior, finished in a rare tie for first, each timed officially by Pickleevents in 15:52.40. Yusuf’s teammate Ian Thompson placed third in 16:25. The Willmar boys placed fifth.
The matchless Hasz twins Megan and Bethany placed 1-2 in 13:52 and 14:12, respectively. But Schmitz, in at 14:54.53, fronted a ribbon of five Willmar runners placing third through seventh: Samantha Hanson was just a stride behind in fourth in 14:55.29, followed by her sister, Jessa (15:00), Serena Monson (15:10) and Kayla Rudie (15:16).
Samantha Hanson was third in this race last year, Schmitz fourth and Jessa Hanson sixth.
Willmar, the top-ranked team in Class AA, finished with 25 points, 60 points up on second-place Sartell.
Yusuf took fourth in 2013 and Runge sixth. Both Willmar teams are all underclassmen except Samantha Hanson. The Alexandria boys repeated as meet champions.
The race was run near host St. Cloud Apollo High School on the grounds of the VA Health Care Center.
The Hasz twins, now juniors, are the top-ranked runners in Class AA; a year ago they finished in the same order but in in 2012 Bethany was medalist and Megan second.
Willmar’s middle school girls also placed first as did the junior varsity girls.
CLC meet
BOYS
Team scoring
Alexandria 39.5, Rocori 67, Sartell 90, Willmar 91.5, Brainerd 111, St. Cloud Tech 132, St. Cloud Apollo 207, Fergus Falls 228
Individual
TOP FIVE - (1) tie, Nadir Yusuf, Wil; Aaron Runge, Alx, both 15:52.40 (3) Ian Thompson, Wil, 16:25 (4) Ryan Fernholz, Sar, 16:33 (5) John Kumarowicz, Alx, 16:37
WILLMAR - (1) Yusuf (3) Thompson (26) Cael Carlson 17:24 (30) Jack Erickson 17:50 (31) Jared Ruter 17:51 (6) Harley Anez 18:12
GIRLS
Team scoring
Willmar 25, Sartell 85, St. Cloud Tech 91, Alexandria 93, Brainerd 131, Rocori 135, Fergus Falls 186, St. Cloud Apollo 201, Sauk Rapids 242
Individual
TOP SEVEN - (1) Megan Hasz, Alx, 13:52 (2) Bethany Hasz, Alx, 14:12 (3) Sophie Schmitz, Wil, 14:54 (4) Samantha Schmitz, Wil, 14:55 (5) Jessa Hanson, Wil, 15:00 (6) Serena Monson, Wil, 15:10 (7) Kayla Rudie, Wil, 15:16
WILLMAR - (3) Sophie Schmitz, Wil, 14:54 (4) Samantha Schmitz, Wil, 14:55 (5) Jessa Hanson, Wil, 15:00 (6) Serena Monson, Wil, 15:10 (7) Kayla Rudie, Wil, 15:16 (15) Heidi Schmitz 15:45 (16) Leah Hansen 15:53
