The Paynesville girls' cross country team's move up to third place at the BBE Invite on Thursday may have been sparked by a repeat victory by Jenny Hess and a top five finish by seventh grader Brooke Schmitz. But the biggest improvement for the team came Trisha Wendlandt, Mesa Frenchick, and Mellody Veldkamp, who all finished 20 places higher than at the first meet.
Mesa and Mellody run with a pack at the BBE Invite.
"I was really pleased with the girls varsity," said coach Darrel Carstens. "They ran very well. Our team goal was to improve from our fourth place finish last year, and we accomplished it."
The Bulldogs, with 93 points, trailed New London-Spicer with 54 and Sauk Centre with 74.
Hess, a junior who has earned all-state honors the past two years, won the BBE Invite for the second year in a row. Her time was 15:03, and she won by 30 seconds.
Three runners from New London-Spicer were next, and right on their heels was Schmitz. In her first varsity race, Schmitz posted a top-ten finish at Morris a week earlier, and in her second varsity race, she finished in the top five, breaking the 16-minute barrier with a time of 15:57.
Kim Hess, an eighth grader, was 13th for Paynesville. The top 15 earned medals. "It was great having three medal winners," said Carstens, "but it was also great having all six runners improve for the team!"
Wendlandt, Frenchick, and Veldkamp all improved dramatically from the first meet at Morris. Each came in 20 spots higher, which helped to drop the Bulldogs' team score by 50 points. Wendlandt finished 34th in 18:41, which was 13 seconds faster than at Morris.
Frenchick improved her time by six seconds and her finish by 21 spots. She was 40th in 19:18 at BBE.
Veldkamp had the same time at both Morris and BBE (19:29), but finished 25 places higher Thursday in 44th.
With only six available runners, the girls' team doesn't run anyone in the junior varsity or junior high races. The team would still welcome more runners.
The team runs at the New London-Spicer meet on Thursday. It will be held on the Little Crow Golf Course starting at 4:30 p.m.
Team standings
1. New London-Spicer -54
2. Sauk Centre -74
3. Paynesville -93
4. Montevideo -105
5. Minnewaska -114
6. Holdingford -154
7. Morris -167
8. BBE -244
ACGC -Inc.
Albany -Inc.
BOLD -Inc.
Litchfield -Inc.
Renville County West -Inc.
Individual results
1. Jenny Hess -15:03
5. Brooke Schmitz -15:57
13. Kim Hess -17:04
34. Trisha Wendlandt -18:41
40. Mesa Frenchick -19:18
44. Mellody Veldkamp - 19:29