By Brayden Dirks
Last Tuesday, the MMCRU Cross Country teams traveled to Kingsley for the Kingsley-Pierson Invitational Meet. It was great weather conditions and a day for fast times. The Royals boys’ team placed first overall by over 20 points. Kaden Galles led the way with a first place finish and a new personal record of 17:39. Brett Staab came next in sixth place with a time of 18:48. Brayden Dirks finished 8th in a time of 19:01, and Gunnar Grage rounded out the medalists for the Royals in 19th with a 20:06. Lucas Braun just missed out on a medal as he was in 21st place with a 20:15. The boys junior varsity runners also did very well. Max Pepper got third place in JV with a time of 23:26. Mason Peters was just behind him in fourth place with a time of 23:28. The Royals girl’s cross country team had two JV runners, who both placed. Alyson Ball got second in JV in 27 minutes flat, and Natalie Plagman got eighth place in JV in a time of 32:40. Every runner on both teams got a new season best, as of now, at Kingsley.
Coach Lisa Spieler was thrilled with the results of the meet, “We went into this meet with two goals. The first was for everyone to run a season best time. Nearly everyone accomplished that. The second was for the boys’ team to win the meet and we did! That is the first team win I’ve experienced as a cross country coach. These kids are awesome. What a great night! I feel very blessed to be their coach.”
For their second meet of the week, the cross country teams went to Hawarden last Thursday. There, the classes were split into Class A, which were bigger schools, and Class B, which were smaller schools. MMCRU participated in Class B, and the boys team got first once again! Kaden Galles finished first in 18:22, and Brayden Dirks finished third in 20:01. Lucas Braun placed fifth in 20:35, and Gunnar Grage placed 8th in 21:27. Mason Peters placed 21st in 24:55, and Max Pepper placed 23rd in 25:50. In girls varsity, Alyson Ball placed 20th in 28:09, and Natalie Plagman placed 31st in 34:18. The course was suspected to be long by over 400 meters, so those times could be skewed. The boy’s team placed first in Class B, and second overall. The Royals will head to Sioux Center on October 11th for the War Eagle Conference Meet. After that, they will head to Orange City on October 15th, and the state qualifying meet will be on October 21st in Holstein. Please come support the Royals as they head into championship season!