This story is sponsored by: Williams-Gray Co.
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
ATHENS – The Marawood Conference Cross Country Meet is 14 days away and if Thursday’s Athens Invitational was any indication, the boys race will be a battle to the end.
Marathon’s Cedric Lechleitner and Stratford’s Matt Zuelke have been two of the top boys runners in the area all season and on Thursday, Lechleitner edged Zuelke by 1.3 seconds to win the boys race and help the Raiders to the team title.
Lechleitner finished in a time of 17:28.3 and Marathon had four other top-10 finishes to score 30 points. Stratford finished a distant second with the help of Zuelke (17:29.6) and eighth-place finisher Tylyn Hoover (19:13.1).
Three Lakes won the girls meet with 37 points, just four better than Colby/Abbotsford. Kathryn Pamperin of Three Lakes won the meet easily, running in 16:06.1. Teammate Natalie Miller was a distant second, finishing in 16:43.8.
Stratford was fifth. Megan Skwierczynski was the top Tigers’ finisher, taking 16th in 18:53.4.
Stratford will compete at the Auburndale Invitational on Tuesday at Frey Field in Spencer.
BOYS
Team standings: 1. Marathon 30; 2. Stratford 68; 3. Fall Creek 76; 4. Colby/Abbotsford 101; 5. Granton 102; 6. Athens 127; New Auburn incomplete team.
Top 10 individuals: 1. Cedric Lechleitner (M) 17:28.3; 2. Matt Zuelke (S) 17:29.6; 3. Andrew Kaiser (CA) 17:34.8; 4. Andrew Studinski (M) 17:36.0; 5. Ben Fox (FC) 18:04.5; 6. Max Butalla (M) 18:58.2; 7. John Richmond (G) 18:59.3; 8. Tylyn Hoover (S) 19:13.1; 9. Mitch Muelbeck (M) 19:14.3; 10. Steven Studinski (M) 19:18.9.
Other Stratford finishers: 11. Derek Hughes 19:32.1; 23. Brandon McHugh 20:16.9; 24. Henry Uthmeier 20:22.4; 25. Michael Hartl 20:43.3; 35. Andrew Schreiner 22:07.9.
GIRLS
Team standings: 1. Three Lakes 37; 2. Colby/Abbotsford 41; 3. Fall Creek 72; 4. Marathon 99; 5. Stratford 107; Granton and New Auburn incomplete teams.
Top 10 individuals: 1. Kathryn Pamperin (TL) 16:06.1; 2. Natalie Miller (TL) 16:43.8; 3. Casey Sprotte (CA) 16:53.9; 4. Katelin Brandstatter (NA) 16:58.3; 5. Amanda Kaiser (CA) 16:58.8; 6. Megan Hanson (FC) 16:59.6; 7. Sheridan Fox (FC) 17:35.5; 8. Amy Levandoski (TL) 17:54.4; 9. Tiffany Krusick (TL) 17:58.5; 10. Chelsea Rahm (CA) 18:09.1.
Stratford finishers: 16. Megan Skwierczynski 18:53.4; 20. Rachel Adank 19:19.0; 29. Sierra Mueller 21:10.0; 30. Jessica Lake 21:15.5; 31. Jennah Kaiser 21:24.8; 40. Josie Kolbeck 23:38.5; 41. Julia Boushon 23:42.5; 42. Taylor Christopherson 23:42.8; 43. Ashley Hei 23:57.7.
Click here for complete results, courtesy of performancetiming.com.