Posted: 9/22/04
By Cynthia Scott
The North Branch and Rush City cross country teams competed against each other in the North Branch Invitational on Sept. 16 at the North Branch Golf Course. Both turned in impressive performances.
The North Branch boys varsity won the 10-team meet with 66 points overall, while Rush City placed squarely in the middle in fifth place with 123 points.
On the girls side, which fielded eight teams, the North Branch varsity recorded a third place finish with 93 points, followed by Rush City in fourth with 102.
North Branch sophomore Nick Ramberg posted a third place finish with a time of 17:28 while Rush Cityís Josh Dahl came in 5th at 17:53. The Tigersí Jared Dahlberg placed 18th with a time of 18:43.
Six other Vikings placed: Nick Sausen, 9th, J.J. Koerber 10th, Brandon Nagle 19th, Mitch Pohlkamp 25th, Cody Good, 27th and Aaron Cedergren, 30th.
Among the runners competing on the girlsí side was the 5th ranked runner in the state, Hermantownís Melissa Engelmeier. Engelmeier set a torrid pace and placed first with a time of 15:05.
Engelmeier was followed by Rush Cityís Christine Frandsen, who was patient in the early stages of the 4,000 meter contest, and finished strong with a time of 16:15.
Other Rush City runners placing included Michelle Stenger, 18th; Becky Kemen, 21st; Amber Hoffman, 24th; Kayla Johnson, 37th and Janet Kemen, 41st.
North Branch girls placing were: Rachel Souther, 7th; Amanda Peterson, 17th; Aileen Shanley, 20th; Tiffany Peterson, 22nd; Maggie Kriz, 27th; Gabby Olson, 33rd; Kelsey Lloyd, 34th.
Other teams in the invitational were Hermantown, Hinckley-Finlayson, Pine City, Milaca, Moose Lake, Cambridge-Isanti, Princeton and East Central.
This was the second consecutive strong performance for Rush City.
On Sept. 14 Christine Frandsen placed first out of 112 runners in the Rice Lake Invitational.
The Tigers boysí team placed 2nd out of 15 small schools at Rice Lake, with Josh Dahl placing 8th and Matt Wuorinen 20th.
Coach Kevin Smith called the Rice Lake meet a ìbreakthroughî performance for the boys.
ìFinishing this high in such a big race is very much a shot of confidence to the kids. The race is very competitive, since both large and small schools run side by side. We are real proud of all our kids.î
Up next: North Branch at the Princeton Invitational Sept. 25, 10 a.m. Rush City at Milaca, 10 a.m.
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