by Scott DCamp
Sports Editor
The Thief River Falls boys and girls cross country teams swept the varsity championships during 2024 Sports Booster Invitational held Thursday, Sept. 19 at the Multi-Events Center in Thief River Falls.
“The boys and girls have been working extremely hard with little time for recovery lately, so it was so great to see them run so well,” said Thief River Falls Head Coach Natasha Reierson. “They continued to battle for each position and place in each race. The boys and girls took first place, with numerous medalists in each race. I am so incredibly proud of what we have done as a team this season, we have been dropping time off each race and placing better as a team, race after race. I hope we keep building on these wins, as a team, and momentum.”
The Prowlers did their best Perham Yellowjacket impression with all five scoring runners finishing in the top 11 in the girls race and all five scores earning top-eight finishes in the boys race.
Elory Mossestad claimed the girls championship for the Prowlers with a time of 21:24.10 that was four seconds faster than runner-up Evelyn Griffin. Katrina Hitchen of Fertile-Beltrami finished third. Former Prowler Reagan Mimnaugh finished fourth.
Other finishes for the Prowlers were Livia Harbott in sixth, Ashlyn Nelson in ninth, Ruby Geisier in 11th and Aliyah Novak finishing 22nd.
The Thief River Falls boys team had a dominant showing with its top-four runners finishing in the top four spots in the meet. Curtis Griffin won the meet, brothers Collin and William MacLean finished second and third, respectively, and Lincoln Davis turned in a fourth place finish.
Also competing for the Prowlers were Eli Nelson, who finished eighth to round-out the team scoring for the Prowlers; Thomas Eidsmoe in 10th, Wyatt Novak, 11th, Toby Sobotta, 15th, and Allen Smith, 21st.
Results
Girls Varsity
• Top 5 – 1. Elory Mossestad, Thief River Falls, 21:24.10; 2. Evelyn Griffin, Thief River Falls, 21:28.57 2; 3. Katrina Hitchen, Fertile-Beltram, 21:37.26 3; 4. Reagan Mimnaugh, Northern Freeze, 22:22.12; 5. Annie Peterson. Stephen-Argyle, 22:27.07.
• TRF places – 1. Elory Mossestad 21:24; 2. Evelyn Griffin 21:28; 6. Livia Harbott 22:31; 9. Ashlyn Nelson 23:44; 11. Ruby Geiser 23:55; 22. Aliyah Novak 30:36.
• Team scores – 1. Thief River Falls 24; 2. Fertile-Beltrami 42; 3. Northern Freeze 54; Incomplete – Bagley, Stephen-Argyle.
Boys Varsity
• Top 5 – 1. Curtis Griffin, Thief River Falls 17:15.47; 2. Collin MacLean, Thief River Falls, 18:30.77; 3. William MacLean, Thief River Falls 19:15.21; 4. Lincoln Davis, Thief River Falls, 19:29.52; 5. Easton Gilbertson, Bagley, 20:18.50. n TRF places – 1. Curtis Griffin 17:15; 2. Colin MacLean 18:30; 3. William MacLean 19:15; 4. Lincoln Davis 19:29; 8. Eli Nelson 20:37; 10. Thomas Eidsmoe 20:48; 11. Wyatt Novak 20:58; 15. Toby Sobotta 22:01; 21. Allen Smith 24:51.
• Team scores – 1. Thief River Falls 18; 2. Bagley 45; 3. Fertile-Beltrami 77; Incomplete – Northern Freeze, Stephen-Argyle.
Girls Junior High
• Winner – 1. Kenley Juhl, Thief River Falls, 18:03.
• TRF places – 1. Kenley Juhl 18:03.
Boys Junior High
• Winner – 1. Xander Syverson, Stephen-Argyle, 13:38.16.
• TRF places – 3. Jace Sands 14:29; 5. Kooper Geiser 15:23; 6. Logan Banasau 15:40; 7. Richie Armendariz 16:12; 8. Paxton Wilson 16:14; 9. William Dagg 16:46; 10. Milo Thorn 17:57.