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Click here for a story and results from the Marawood Conference Cross Country Meet.
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
AUBURNDALE – Auburndale’s Danica Harrison won the Marawood Conference cross country girls title last season as a sophomore. This year, coach Jim Johnson not only hopes she will repeat, but that another title could mean a team championship for the Apaches.
Harrison has been one of the top runners in the Marawood all season and should be considered the favorite to do it again Thursday at the 2010 Marawood Conference Cross Country Meet, according to Johnson.
“With Danica, it’s pretty straight forward (her goal is) to repeat as champion,” Johnson said. “She won last year and I sure hope she’s favored going into it. A strong run will help get us ready for sectionals as a team.”
How the Apaches’ second and third runners – Sam Karl and Emma Steines – finish on the Nine-Mile Forest Recreation Area course in Rib Mountain will go a long way in determining where Auburndale finishes. Both finished in the top six in the Auburndale Invitational last week. Edgar has won 13 straight Marawood Conference girls team championships, so it will be tough.
“We’ve battled injuries, illness, things like that,” Johnson said. “If they go out and run their best, and the (close) gaps among the runners are there … Edgar is pretty good. It’s going to be a hard, but not impossible.”
On the boys’ side, team expectations are a little more reserved, but not individually.
Chequamegon is the favorite, Johnson said, but Auburndale could figure into the second or third spot if everything goes well.
“We really would like to challenge the top teams,” Johnson said. “Chequamegon is a really good Division 3 school that has beaten a lot of good D-2 programs. Marathon, we’ve been just behind them this season. It’s up to the No. 5 or No. 6 runners. They have to step up to get them. Hopefully they have the confidence that they can do it.”
David Haas finished ninth last year at the Marawood meet and the Apaches seems to be stronger this year overall.
Luke Haas, a freshman, has been the Apaches’ top runner all season, usually closely followed by David.
Aaron Swenson and Jared Snortheim also figure to finish in the top 20 for Auburndale.
“Both (Luke and David Haas) want to move ahead of the guys that have beat them during the season and are looking to finish high,” Johnson said. “Aaron Swenson and Jared Snortheim could easily finish in the top 15, even the top 10, if they can run their best race. The competition is pretty tough in this conference. There are so many good runners.”
The varsity boys race starts at 4 p.m., with the girls race slated for 4:30 p.m. The JV races start at 5 p.m.