SUBMITTED
The Breckenridge-Wahpeton Storm cross country teams battled heat and hills at the Hawley Dale Skallerud Memorial Meet on Thursday. Under clear and calm skies, 21 teams lined up on the hilly Hawley Golf Course, where temps reached 85 degrees.
Storm Coach Larry Lasch praised his athletes’ effort, noting, “I was very happy with how our kids competed today. It was fun to race in a big meet, the kids had great competition. Hawley is the most hilly course we will see, so it provides a great challenge. Troy, Jace and Jack looked solid today and did a nice job working together. Jack Stuehrenberg ran a good time in his first varsity race and will have a bright future in cross country. To place three girls in the top twenty in a field of 115 runners is awesome. Lucie, Kiera and Jasmyn ran nice races moving up in the pack, as did Gracie to finish 34th. Seventh grader Ashlynne Max also had a great day, finishing fourth in the junior high division.”
On the boys side, the Storm finished 10th out of 18 varsity teams, led by Troy Berndt (25th, 18:46), with strong support from Jace Dauer (48th) and Jack Ekren (55th).
The girls varsity team delivered a standout performance, taking runner-up with 110 points, just behind Barnesville (54). Lucie Comstock (4th, 20:25) and Kiera Wiertzema (5th, 20:28) ran side by side at the front, while Jasmyn Benedict (14th) and Gracie Falck (34th) gave the Storm key finishes in the deep field of 115 runners.
