Hand and Kolker pace Clear Lake XC teams

The Clear Lake boys and girls cross country teams are gradually returning to full strength and are beginning to hit their stride as the second half of the season begins. The teams were at Algona Monday, Sept. 24. Girls results Brita Hand was back in the girls lineup after becoming injured in the first meet of the season. Hand, a freshman, showed her potential by leading the Lions with a 43rd place finish in 18:09. She was followed by Vanessa Ruiz, who came in 46th in 18:13. “Brita and Vanessa ran together most of the race, helping each other to good times,” said Coach Jerry Morris. Laura Fyfe was next in for the Lions, running a time of 19:10 for 61st.
Gracie Bojoroquez was 67th in 19:23, and Sara Jo Raner was 76th in 20:06. “Sara Jo is ready to break the 20-minute barrier,” the coach predicted. Ariel Thomas rounded out the scoring for the 11th place team, finishing 83rd in 23:33.

Boys results The Clear Lake boys also posted many season-best times while finishing eighth in the 11-team field. “We need to use this as an uncentive to keep dropping times. Our group ran well, but we now need to get out faster in the race to improve our standings as a team. Jake Kolker turned in his fastest time of the season, placing third among the Lions and 47th overall in 19:06. The team was led by Grant Peterson, who was 36th in 18:30. Alex Schwichtenberg was 43rd in 18:42. Zach Bartlett and Payton Hand were 52nd and 53rd in 19:38 and 19:39. Joel Schwichtenberg was 55th in 19:41 and Ryan Iverson was 57th in 19:43.

Junior varsity
The course was shortened a little for junior varsity competition due to some wet conditions. However, the JV Lions turned in some good times and places. Erik Schwichtenberg ran for the first time since being injured in the second meet of the year and finished 10th overall in 18:36. Also showing well for the Lions was Kory McLaughlin, 23rd in 19:24; Tucker Weber, 27th in 19:27; Colin Lobdell, 32nd in 19:48; Jacob Colon, 35th in 19:53; and Nicholas DiMarco, 36th in 19:54. Finishing just over the 20-minute mark was Zach Johnson, 41st in 20:27; Chipper Fyfe, 49th in 20:44; Andrew Klein, 59th in 21:18; Tyler Arnberg, 67th in 22:03; Andrew Hansen, 75th in 23:37; Tanner Larson, 77th in 23:52; and Noah Langholz, 80th in 25:15