ALEXANDRIA - Samantha Hanson, in third, paced five Cardinals among the first 11 runners as Willmar won the Section 8AA girls cross country championship a second straight year.
Willmar juniors Nadir Yusuf and Ian Thompson ran fourth and fifth in the boys 5k to gain the state meet Nov. 1 in Northfield.
Times were as hot as the weather for so late in October, nudging toward 70 degrees at Arrowwood Lodge.
Alexandria sisters Megan and Bethany Hasz ran 1-2 - the reverse order they finished at state last November - in fiery 4k times of 13:41 and 13:49. Hanson led the rest of the field in third in a fast 14:43. Then for Willmar were Jessa Hanson in 14:55 (6th), Serena Monson in 15:02 (8th) followed in a virtual deadlock for 10th place with Kayla Rudie in 15:06.8 (10th) and Sophie Schmitz at 15:06.9 (11th).
That added up to just 38 points followed by Bemidji in the second qualifying spot with 68. Sam Hanson finished six seconds up on the Lumberjacks’ Jenna Truedson, ranked No. 3 in Class AA.
Yusuf and Thompson finished two seconds apart with Yusuf finishing the 5k in 16:38. The boys team, all underclassmen, placed fifth. Alexandria and Bemidji advance to the boys team competition at state.
Section 8AA
BOYS
Team scoring
STATE QUALIFIERS: Alexandria 72, Bemidji 77 …. Detroit Lakes 123, Moorhead 148, Willmar 158, Little Falls 159, Rocori 170, Sartell 183, Brainerd 197, Monticello 215, St. Cloud Tech 231, Becker 307, St. Cloud Apollo 421, Sauk Rapids 422, Thief River Falls 442, Fergus Falls 447
Individual
STATE QUALIFIERS -(1) Matt Lundstrom, DL, 16:19; (2) Tyler Moore, LF, 16:21; Nadir Yusuf, Wil, 16:38; Ian Thompson, Wil, 16:40; Luke Lahr, Becker, 16:43; Eli Herrick, Mhd, 16:46; Ryan Fernholz, Sar, 16:58; Andy Mergen, Monti, 17:03
WILLMAR - (4) Yusuf (5) Thompson (45) Jack Erickson 18:08.7 (46) Cael Carlson 18:08.8 (58) Jared Ruters 18:29 (68) Harley Anez 18:49 (91) Dakota Tjaden 20:03
GIRLS
Team scoring
STATE QUALIFIERS: (1) Willmar 38 (2) Bemidji 69 …. Moorhead 83, Monticello 145, Alexandria 147, Sartell 152, St. Cloud Tech 199, Rocori 269, Becker 278, Detroit Lakes 291, St. Cloud Apollo 328, Thief River Falls 335, Little Falls 341, Fergus Falls 371, Sauk Rapids 455
Individual
STATE QUALFIERS - (1) Megan Hasz, Alx, 13:41 (2) Bethany Hasz, Alx, 13:49; Mackenzie Dockendorf, Sartell, 14:59 (9) Mallori Johnson, Mhd, 15:05 Mackenzie Kelly, Mhd 15:13; Lexi Maddux, Mhd, 15:14; Patty Bray, Monti, 15:18; Anna Fasen, Monti,15:23
WILLMAR - (3) Samantha Hanson 14:43 (6) Jessa Hanson, 14:55 (8) Serena Monson 15:02 (10) Kayla Rudie 15:06.8 (11) Sophia Schmitz 15:06.9 (38) Heidi Schmitz 15:40 (22) Leah Hanson 15:52
