Four All-Conference individual finishes in the top 15 led the International Falls girls cross country team to place second at Tuesday’s Iron Range Conference meet held at Hoyt Lakes.
Grand Rapids won the girls team title with 25 points, followed by the Falls (56), Ely (87), Hibbing (93), Eveleth-Gilbert (106) and Virginia (142).
A runner from Grand Rapids also placed first individually when junior Erin Baker completed the 4,000-meter course in 15 minutes, 22.8 seconds.
The four Bronco girls to earn All-Conference honors were led by eighth-grader Lexi Erickson, who placed fourth in 15:52.7.
“The team did really good,” Erickson said. “We were trying to be the top team, but we gave it our best shot.”
Falls’ other three All-Conference runners included: junior Sydney Raboin, fifth in 16:01.8; junior Amy Auran, 14th in 17:26.0; and senior Amber Harms, 15th in 17:31.6.
“It’s nice to have four girls make the All-Conference,” said Broncos head coach Paul Hjelle. “All of them ran well (Tuesday).”
Falls’ other runner to count in the team standings was senior Rachel Foss, who placed 29th in 19:05.7.
“(Tuesday) was a very competitive meet, and we all knew that we were going to have to run hard (Tuesday),” Foss said. “I am proud of each girl on the team, but we still have to get better and improve for sections next (week) Thursday.”
Hjelle said it “will be excited next week at the Section meet.”
“We will have to be at our best if we are going to make it back to state for the second year in a row,” he said.
Falls boys sixth
In the boys competition, none of Falls’ runners placed in the top 15 to earn All-Conference honors when the Broncos finished sixth as a team.
The top-six of the nine boys teams with five or more finishers to count in the standing were led by Grand Rapids with 48, followed by Hibbing (61), Virginia (94), Eveleth-Gilbert (107), Mesabi East (119) and the Falls (133).
“I thought our boys would have done a little better (Tuesday) as a team, but they gave it their best shot and that's all you can ask.”
Grand Rapids senior Colin Cottingham placed first individually after finishing the 5,000-meter course in 16:49.1.
Only one Falls boys runner finished in the top 20 when senior Marco Griffith came in 20th in 19:01.7.
“Our places weren’t as good as we had hoped they would be, but everyone ran as hard as they could and gave their all,” Griffith said.
Broncos senior Cade MacKay was right behind Griffith placing 21st in 19:04.9.
The three other Falls boys runners who counted in the team standings included: Wyatt Ulrich, 26th in 19:32.3; Logan Veillieux, 31st in 19:47.3; and Cole Tatsak, 35th in 20:11.0.
The Broncos’ next meet is the Section 7A competition Oct. 25 in Cloquet.
Iron Range Conference Meet
GIRLS
Team scores: Grand Rapids 25, International Falls 56, Ely 87, Hibbing 93, Eveleth-Gilbert 106, Virginia 142.
Top 15 individuals (All-Conference): 1. Erin Baker, Grand Rapids, 15:22.8; 2. Jaylynn Lauer, Grand Rapids, 15:47.0; 3. Megan West, Mesabi East, 15:49.9; 4. Lexi Erickson, International Falls, 15:52.7; 5. Sydney Raboin, International Falls, 16:01.8; 6. Ellyssa Peterson, Greenway/N-K, 16:04.4; 7. Megan Allen, Grand Rapids, 16:10.8; 8. Johannah Wyrick, Eveleth-Gilbert, 16:12.0; 9. Abbey Whiting, Mesabi East, 16:17.8; 10. Amy Bianco, Ely, 16:21.6; 11. Maddi Peart, Grand Rapids, 17:05.4; 12. Faith Filipiak, Grand Rapids, 17:17.0; 13. Jordyn Sallis, Hibbing, 17:18.8; 14. Amy Auran, International Falls, 17:26.0; 15. Amber Harms, International Falls, 17:31.6.
Falls runners: 4. Lexi Erickson, 15:52.7; 5. Sydney Raboin, 16:01.8; 14. Amy Auran, 17:26.0; 15. Amber Harms, 17:31.6; 29. Rachel Foss, 19:05.7; 43. Lexi Edwards, 21:00.2.
BOYS
Team scores: Grand Rapids 48, Hibbing 61, Virginia 94, Eveleth-Gilbert 107, Mesabi East 119, International Falls 133, Ely 168, Greenway/N-K 182, Mountain Iron-Buhl 268.
Top 15 individuals (All-Conference): 1. Colin Cottingham, Grand Rapids, 16:49.1; 2. Danny Radtke, Mesabi East, 17:22.7; 3. Jake Avenson, Grand Rapids, 17:25.9; 4. Wil Maki, Hibbing, 17:44.5; 5. Sam Johnson, Mesabi East, 17:48.2; 6. Trevor Klatt, Grand Rapids, 17:49.3; 7. Reed Melicher, Eveleth-Gilbert, 18:05.2; 8. Daniel Rodriguez, Eveleth-Gilbert, 18:07.7; 9. Wyatt Becicka, Virginia, 18:15.7; 10. Andy Rudberg, Hibbing, 18:19.7; 11. Austin Stefanich, Greenway/N-K; 18:22.3; 12. Braden Curnow, Hibbing, 18:26.0; 13. Jared Franzone, Grand Rapids, 18:30.2; 14. Simon Holmes, Virginia, 18:31.8; 15. Alex Paul, Mesabi East, 18:39.6.
Falls runners: 20. Marco Griffith, 19:01.7; 21. Cade MacKay, 19:04.9; 26. Wyatt Ulrich, 19:32.3; 31. Logan Veillieux, 19:47.3; 35. Cole Tatsak, 20:11.0; 41. Cody Tatsak, 20:46.0; 42. Corin Wenger, 20:49.6.
