All five International Falls girls cross country runners who counted in the team standings finished in the top 10 Tuesday when the Broncos won the Titan Invitational.
Falls finished first with 26 points, followed by Eveleth-Gilbert (49), Moose Lake/Willow River (60), Grand Rapids (79) and Virginia (131) as the five teams with enough finishers to score in the team totals.
The Bronco girls, who came 11 points within the perfect score of 15, occupied the top-two places with eighth-grader Lexi Erickson finishing first on the 4,000-meter course in 15 minutes, 33 seconds, 14 seconds ahead of junior teammate Sydney Raboin in second.
The three other Falls runners who counted toward the team total included: senior Amber Harms, sixth in 17:20; junior Amy Auran, eighth in 17:47; and senior Rachel Foss, ninth in 18:03.
“We all felt like the course was difficult (Tuesday) because we weren’t familiar with it,” Harms said. “We had five girls in the top 12, which was great to see.”
Bronco boys second
The Bronco boys team came within 16 points of the top spot.
Virginia had the top team score of 43, followed by the Falls (59), Eveleth-Gilbert (68), Greenway/Nashwauk-Keewatin (102) and Moose Lake/Willow River (108) rounding out the top five.
All five Bronco runners who counted in the team standings finished in the top 20 with two placing in the top 10.
Falls senior Cade MacKay placed sixth on the 5,000-meter course in 18:51 with senior teammate Marco Griffith coming in eighth in 18:59.
“Everyone ran well (Tuesday),” MacKay said. “(Tuesday’s) new course was a good challenge for us to try out a work out unfamiliar to us, yet we all finished with good times and places.”
The three other Bronco runners in the top 20 included: senior Logan Veillieux, 11th in 19:26; junior Wyatt Ulrich, 14th in 20:00; and senior Corin Wenger, 20th in 20:27.
Falls next will host its only home meet of the season Oct. 11 when the Hial Pike meet takes place at the Falls Country Club.
Titan Invitational
GIRLS
Team scores: International Falls 26, Eveleth-Gilbert 49, Moose Lake/Willow River 60, Grand Rapids 79, Virginia 131.
I. Falls runners: 1. Lexi Erickson, 15:33; 2. Sydney Raboin, 15:47; 6. Amber Harms, 17:20; 8. Amy Auran, 17:47; 9. Rachel Foss, 18:03; 20. Shelby Wolden, 19:52; 28. Megan Schwartz, 21:13.
BOYS
Team scores: Virginia 43, International Falls 59, Eveleth-Gilbert 68, Greenway/Nashwauk-Keewatin 102, Moose Lake/Willow River 108, Grand Rapids 115, Mountain Iron-Buhl 191.
I. Falls runners: 6. Cade MacKay, 18:51; 8. Marco Griffith, 18:59; 11. Logan Veillieux, 19:26; 14. Wyatt Ulrich, 20:00; 20. Corin Wenger, 20:27; 29. Cody Tatsak, 21:11; 33. Eric Mathews, 21:55.
