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Sectional champs
Lancaster girls claim D3 Fennimore sectional cross country title
Lanc GXC team 1
Loaded with a number of talented runners, the Lancaster girls cross country team won the Division 3 Fennimore Sectional, which was only the programs second sectional title in school history. Pictured above with their sectional trophy are: (from left) Lydia Murphy, Kristen Muench, Hanna Cohen, Megan Volkmann, Maddie Hampton, Felicia Holmes, Crystalyn Mish and Kylie Hale.

FENNIMORE – It was no secret heading into this season that the Lancaster girls cross country team was loaded with talent.

Coach Taylor Reynolds welcomed back five members this year that ran at the WIAA state meet in 2015, including one that returned in 2016 to finish second in the division 3 girls field.

With all the returning talent, the Lancaster girls cross country team did something last Saturday that had only been done one other time in school history; win a sectional team title.

With a team score of 52, the Flying Arrows finished first of 17 competing teams at the D3 Fennimore Sectional, finishing four points ahead of second-place Marshall and 13-points ahead of third-place Darlington.

The first time a Lancaster cross country team had won a sectional title, was back in 1993.

On Saturday, the Flying Arrows had three runners finish among the top 10, and were led by junior Lydia Murphy, who placed second with a time of 20:51.

Murphy will be making her third trip to the state meet in Wisconsin Rapids, finishing seventh as a freshman and second as a sophomore.

Lancaster freshman Kristin Muench, who has put together a sensational season, finished fifth on Saturday with a time of 21:08, while junior Hanna Cohen placed 10th with a time of 22:14.

Rounding out Lancaster’s top five were senior Maddie Hampton, who finished 13th (22:25) and junior Crystalyn Mish, who placed 22nd (23:21). 

“We knew going into the race that we were capable of competing for a top spot, however, we also knew the competitiveness of this sectional,” said coach Reynolds. “The girls’ race was loaded with quality teams.”

“We kept our focus on giving our very best effort during the race. If we gave out best effort, we could walk away happy regardless of how the team scores turned out,” Reynolds added.

“We had some great races on Saturday, but I think the thing that impressed me the most was when one of our girls was not having the best race of their life, they still brought there very best effort. They got the job done regardless of what kind of day they were having, and that’s what racing as a team is all about,” Reynolds said.

“Saturday was an electrifying atmosphere, and I was very overwhelmed by the amount of support from the Lancaster fans,” Reynolds added. “I’d like to thank them. We are very proud to bring home a sectional championship to Lancaster.”

The Division 3 girls’ state cross country race will begin at 12:40 p.m. this Saturday at the Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids.

Also at last Saturday’s Fennimore Sectional, the Lancaster boys’ team placed seventh of 18 teams wit 196 points. Taking the sectional title was Darlington, who scored 41 points.

Lancaster senior Hunter Liddell was the team’s top finisher in 19th place with a time of 19:25. He was followed by sophomore Aaron Murphy in 20th (19:26), senior Tyler Graney in 27th (19:41), freshman Hunter Moore in 55th (20:47) and freshman Zach Mendis in 75th (21:22).

Also competing at Saturday’s Fennimore Sectional were the River Ridge boys’ and girls’ teams.

The River Ridge boys placed 14th with 311 points, while the girls placed 10th with 293.

Freshman Brett Kerscher led the River Ridge boys with a time of 19:29 and a 21st place, while freshman Brad Hoffman placed 28th (19:42), sophomore Bryly Clark 65th (21:03), freshman Sam White 98th (22:42) and junior Jon Breuer 99th (22:43).

For the River Ridge girls, sophomore Tova Lindberg placed 29th with a time of 23:53, while freshman Glenna Marshall placed 49th (25:45), freshman Faith Webb 50th (25:46), junior Olivia Meyer 73rd (28:47) and junior Ashton Marshall 92nd (32:14).

 

D3 Fennimore Sectional

(from Saturday, Oct. 21)

Boys

Team scores - 1. Darlington 41; 2. New Glarus/Monticello 129; 3. Marshall 155; 4. Boscobel 161; 5. Madison Country Day 184; 6. Wauzeka-Steuben 194; 7. Lancaster 196; 8. Albany 231; 9. Waterloo 251; 10. Pecatonica/Argyle 279; 11. Belleville 286; 12. Fennimore 292; 13. Parkview 309; 14. River Ridge 311; 15. Kickapoo/La Farge 320; 16. Iowa-Grant 327; 17. Riverdale 445; 18. North Crawford 465.

Top finishers from Lancaster

19. Hunter Liddell 19:25; 20. Aaron Murphy 19:26; 27. Tyler Graney 19:41; 55. Hunter Moore 20:47; 75. Zach Mendis 21:22; 94. Andrew McCarville 22:36; 103. Remington Bontreger 22:53.

Top finishers from River Ridge

21. Brett Kerscher 19:29; 28. Brad Hoffman 19:42; 65. Bryly Clark 21:03; 98. Sam White 22:42; 99. Jon Breuer 22:43; 108. Isaac White 23:24; 113. Kyle Adrian 24:02.

Girls

Team scores - 1. Lancaster 52; 2. Marshall 56; 3. Darlington 65; 4. Albany 93; 5. Boscobel 134; 6. Fennimore 214; 7. Waterloo 233; 8. New Glarus/Monticello 264; 9. Belleville 265; 10. River Ridge 293; 11. St. Ambrose Academy 306; 12. North Crawford 308; 13. Madison Country Day 321; 14. Parkview 345; 15. Wauzeka/Steuben 378; 16. Riverdale 393; 17. Iowa-Grant 474.

Top finishers from Lancaster

2. Lydia Murphy 20:51; 5. Kristin Muench 21:08; 10. Hanna Cohen 22:14; 13. Maddie Hampton 22:25; 22. Crystalyn Mish 23:21; 48. Kylie Hale 25:44.

Top finishers from River Ridge

 

29. Tova Lindberg 23:53; 49. Glenna Marshall 25:45; 50. Faith Webb 25:46; 73. Olivia Meyer 28:47; 92. Ashton Marshall 32:14.