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MarshfieldAreaSports.com
ATHENS – The Auburndale girls cross country team finished second to Edgar at the Marawood Conference Meet a week ago and was left a little disappointed.
Friday at the WIAA Division 3 sectional at Erbach Park in Athens, the Apaches were more than happy to take second behind Edgar.
Auburndale, behind a second-place performance by Danica Harrison and a seventh-place finish from Sam Karl, finished second as a team to earn a spot in the WIAA State Cross Country Championships on Oct. 30 at the Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids.
It Is the third time in school history the girls team has qualified for the state meet, and the first time since 1985.
“The girls came through with some clutch performances,” Auburndale coach Jim Johnson said. “All the girls ran great as a team, from Danica to Sam to Emma (Steines) to Heather (Nigh), but especially Stafani Karl, who has really improved and ran incredible to get the team through to state.”
Harrison (15:25.24) finished just 1.21 seconds behind Lizzie Pospyhalla of Edgar for the individual title. Sam Karl was seventh in 16:36.22 and Stafani Karl took 26th as the Apaches’ fifth runner in 17:37.16.
Two other runners in the MarshfieldAreaSports.com coverage area garnered spots at the state meet.
Marshfield Columbus Catholic’s Claire Pinter took sixth in the girls race, finishing in 16:31.97 to grab one of the individual qualifying spots.
The top two teams and top five individuals not on those teams qualify for the WIAA state meet.
Stratford’s Matt Zuelke was the lone boy to qualify from the area. He placed second in 16:47.47, nearly 22 seconds behind Edgar’s Alex Faber/
The Rosholt boys won the team title, with Marathon finishing second.
Auburndale’s David Haas was the sixth-best runner not on the top two teams, just missing a state berth. He finished 10th in 17:37.39 to lead the Apaches.
Spencer’s top boy was Dan Schubert (35th, 18:56.76) and Jessica Ruhbusch was the top girl (44th, 18:19.69).
Hannah Strickland was Stratford top girl, taking 35th in 18:05.17.
Columbus Catholic’s top boy finisher was Travis Wienke, who took 43rd in 19:20.89.
Boys
Team standings: *1. Rosholt 49; *2. Marathon 68; 3. Edgar 86; 4. Amherst 131; 5. Auburndale 136; 6. Iola-Scandinavia 137; 7. Stratford 148; 8. Wisconsin Rapids Assumption 161; 9. Loyal 248; 10. Athens 258; 11. Marshfield Columbus Catholic 312; 12. Crandon 364; Stevens Point Pacelli, Spencer, Marion, New Auburn incomplete teams. (* state team qualifiers)
Top 10 individuals: *1. Alex Faber (ED) 16:25.66; *2. Matt Zuelke (STR) 16:47.47; (T) 3. Andrew Studinski (MAR) 16:51.43; *4. Jared Lutz (AM) 17:02.60; (T) 5. Jordan Yenter (ROS) 17:97.12; *6. David Jadack (SPP) 17:16.34; *7. Kody Guden (ED) 17:19.01; (T) 8. Ryan Wierzba (ROS) 17:21.86; (T) 9. Cedric Lechleitner (MAR) 17:24.59; 10. David Haas (AUB) 17:37.39. (T – part of team state qualifiers; *state individual qualifiers)
Other Auburndale finishers: 12. Luke Haas 17:55.36; 27. Aaron Swenson 18:35.85; 36. Jared Snortheim 18:57.72; 60. Aaron Kollross 19:59.87; 63. Kyle Wildenberg 21:12.23; 70. Jacob Hunsberger 20:33.82.
Columbus Catholic finishers: 43. Travis Wienke 19:20.89; 68. Tyler Derfus 20:23.77; 78. Malcolm Pittsley 21:40.21; 82. Ethan Badzinski 21:57.06; 89. Zack Kolbeck 23:55.45.
Other Stratford finishers: 31. Derek Hughes 18:45.47; 32. Tylyn Hoover 18:46.40; 38. Brandon McHugh 19:04.02; 53. Henry Uthmeier 19:53.38; 54. Michael Hartl 19:54.30; 80. Andrew Schreiner 21:52.69.
Spencer finishers: 35. Dan Schubert 18:56.76; 69. Rudy Nieman 20:25.57; 84. Christian Neumann 22:40.47; 85. Steven Hebert 23:09.99.
Girls
Team standings: *1. Edgar 47; *2. Auburndale 65; 3. Three Lakes 80; 4. Iola-Scandinavia 119; 5. Amherst 132; 6. Stevens Point Pacelli 140; 7. Wisconsin Rapids Assumption 141; 8. Marshfield Columbus Catholic 212; 9. Marathon 241; 10. Spencer 270; 11. Stratford 272; 12. Marion 316; 13. Crandon 357; Loyal, New Auburn, Rosholt incomplete. (*state team qualifiers)
Top 10 finishers: (T) 1. Lizzie Pospyhalla (ED) 15:24.03; (T) 2. Danica Harrison (AUB) 15:25.24; *3. Ana Breit (SPP) 15:51.23; *4. Natalie Miller (TL) 16:14.47; *5. Kathryn Pamperin (TL) 16:23.79; *6. Claire Pinter (MCC) 16:31.97; (T) 7. Sam Karl (AUB) 16:36.22; *8. Katelin Brandstatter (NA) 16:36.22; 9. Emily Sether (IS) 16:40.92; (T) 10. Jessi Krause (ED) 16:47.03. (T – part of team state qualifiers; *state individual qualifiers)
Other Auburndale finsihers: 14. Emma Steines 17:12.90; 22. Heather Nigh 17:37.16; 26. Stafani Karl 17:46.97; 47. Tracey Bredl 18:25.82; 76. Skyler De Boer 20:36.11.
Other Columbus Catholic finishers: 48. Sarah Brandt 18:28.70; 51. Tori Schlagenhaft 18:35.82; 59. Rachel Albrecht 19:16.32; 62. Abby Gotz 19:26.41; 85. Nikki Hertel 21:23.59.
Stratford finishers: 35. Hannah Strickland 18:05.17; 43. Rachel Adank 18:18.75; 68. Sierra Mueller 20:00.68; 71. Jennah Kaiser 20:12.94; 75. Julia Bushon 20:34.21; 77. Macy Huettl 20:40.79; 79. Andrea Wenzel 20:44.55.
Spencer finishers: 44. Jessica Ruhbusch 18:19.69; 52. Sam Hoeldtke 18:37.08; 57. Hana Kramer 19:03.21; 64. Jessica Wiersig 19:54.15; 72. Tara Kramer 20;14.80; 73. Jaynie Burnett 20:22.23.
Complete results courtesy of performancetiming.com.