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RIB MOUNTAIN – For the first time since 2005, the Auburndale boys cross country team is going to state.
The Apaches finished second with 63 points behind Marathon (36 points) Friday at the WIAA Division 3 sectional to garner one of the two team qualifying spots for next Saturday’s WIAA State Cross Country Meet at Wisconsin Rapids.
Luke Haas finished fourth in 17:27.9 and David Haas was sixth in17:54.0 at Nine Mile Forest Recreation Area to lead Auburndale into the state meet.
“I am very proud of the boys team and how they ran tonight,” Auburndale coach Jim Johnson said.
The Auburndale girls weren’t as fortunate. Missing top runner Danica Harrison due to an athletic code violation and subsequent suspension, the Apaches finished third in the standings behind Edgar and Pittsville.
Although the team won’t be going to the state meet for the second year in a row, freshman Abby Bauer will be making her first state appearance. Bauer finished fourth in 16:15.6 to grab one of five individual qualifying spots at the sectional.
“The girls ran their hearts out, but came up short against Pittsville,” Johnson said. “The Pittsville girls ran well, and we ran our best race of the year, it was just unfortunate that the team had to run while missing their best runner.”
Marshfield Columbus Catholic senior Claire Pinter will be making a return trip to the state meet after placing seventh in 16:35.4.
The Spencer girls were eighth and Stratford was 10th. Samantha Fuehrer led the Rockets, taking 14th in 17:03.7, while Rachel Adank topped Stratford, finishing 26th in 17:48.4.
On the boys side, Marshfield Columbus was a distant third behind Marathon and Auburndale. Spencer was 10th and Stratford took 12th.
Jeremy Binder took 13th (18:34.3) and Tyler Derfus was 23rd (19:17.8) for the Dons.
Donovan Fox led Spencer, taking 36th in 19:46.8, while Matt Krall topped Stratford, finishing 52nd in 20:35.4.
WIAA Division 3 Sectional
Oct. 21, Nine-Mile Forest Recreation Area, Rib Mountain
Girls
Team standings: *1. Edgar 39; *2. Pittsville 81; 3. Auburndale 92; 4. Wisconsin Rapids Assumption 107; 5. Marathon 116; 6. Marshfield Columbus Catholic 145; 7. Owen-Withee 199; 8. Spencer 202; 9. Three Lakes 211; 10. Stratford 235; 11. Stevens Point Pacelli 238; 12. Prentice/Rib Lake 315; Athens, Crandon, Granton, Loyal, Neillsville incomplete. (* state team qualifiers)
Top 10: 1. Tory Palmer (PIT) 15:21.4; 2. Jessi Krause (ED) 15:34.4; 3. Kari Beckman (PIT) 16:04.3; *4. Abby Bauer (AUB) 16:15.6; 5. Kira Dittman (ED) 16:24.8; *6. Emily Heil (MAR) 16:29.7; *7. Claire Pinter (MCC) 16:35.4; *8. Elizabeth Studinski (MAR) 16:43.9; 9. Lizzie Pospyhalla (ED) 16:44.4; *10. Tessa Veverka (WRA) 16:48.2. (*state individual qualifiers)
Other Auburndale finishers: 15. Emma Steines 17:04.0; 19. Stafani Karl 17:28.6; 20. Heather Nigh 17:33.5; 35. Sam Karl 18:13.8; 49. Becky Willfahrt 19:01.0; 80. Melanie Brandl 21:33.9.
Other Columbus finishers: 27. Riley Roehl 17:50.6; 31. Katy Jensen 18:00.7; 33. Rachel Albrecht 18:06.4; 52. Abby Gotz 19:14.3; 69. Tori Schlagenhaft 19:48.6.
Spencer finishers: 14. Samantha Fuehrer 17:03.7; 38. Paige Lawrence 18:25.7; 47. Macie Wienke 18:59.1; 53. Cora Beyreis 19:14.3; 64. Jordyn Wichlacz 19:33.8; 65. Jessica Mueller 19:43.5.
Stratford finishers: 26. Rachel Adank 17:48.4; 43. Julia Bushon 18:46.2; 44. Danielle Leffel 18:47.4; 68. Jennah Kaiser 19:46.4; 74. Andrea Wenzel 20:26.7; 76. Kristina Eikeland 20:34.9; 81. Stacie Hartl 21:36.0.
Boys
Team standings: *1. Marathon 36; *2. Auburndale 63; 3. Marshfield Columbus Catholic 105; 4. Wisconsin Rapids Assumption 108; 5. Edgar 157; 6. Loyal 168; 7. Pittsville 187; 8. Stevens Point Pacelli 202; 9. Athens 222; 10. Spencer 247; 11. Owen-Withee 270; 12. Stratford 294; Crandon, Granton, Neillsville, Prentice/Rib Lake incomplete.
Top 10: 1. Andrew Studinski (MAR) 17:01.8; 2. Steven Studinski (MAR) 17:26.0; 3. Luke Haas (AUB) 17:27.9; *4. Kody Guden (ED) 17:41.5; 5. Max Butalla (MAR) 17:47.6; 6. David Haas (AUB) 17:54.0; *7. Elliott Bender (WRA) 18:01.4; *8. Quentin Edelburg (PRL) 18:04.3; *9. Cordell Kapusta (NEI) 18:06.4; *10. Jared Genteman (LOY) 18:06.6.
Other Auburndale finishers: 19. Jacob Hunsberger 19:04.2; 20. Tom Sable 19:04.8; 31. Lane Schuld 19:31.1; 38. Aaron Kollross 19:48.4; 41. Brad Becker 19:58.0.
Columbus Catholic finishers: 13. Jeremy Binder 18:34.3; 23. Tyler Derfus 19:17.8; 28. Brandon Nikolai 19:27.6; 32. Sam Studinger 19:35.2; 37. Travis Wienke 19:47.4; 39. Kienan McIntee 19:50.4; 50. Alex Baierl 20:16.2.
Spencer finishers: 36. Donovan Fox 19:46.8; 43. Danny Schubert 20:02.9; 62. Austin Mueller 20:53.2; 77. Bernhard Liehr 22:02.9; 79. Quinn Kramar 22:10.4; 82. Steven Hebert 23:18.7.
Stratford finishers: 52. Matt Krall 20:35.4; 68. Henry Uthmeier 21:04.8; 70. Mark Wenzel 21:18.9; 80. Karl Strickland 23:14.4; 81. Brandon Foley 23:16.6.