Otter Girls Claim Title at Central Minnesota River Run
The Fergus Falls girls’ started the 2023 Cross Country season with an impressive win at the Central Minnesota River Run in Staples on Monday. The Otters won the event with 37 points and the host, Staples-Motley, finished as runners-up with 53. Third place went to Park Rapids Area with 74, followed by Crosby-Ironton with 93, Detroit Lakes with 118 and Ashby/Brandon-Evansville with 121.
The Otters had 3 girls place in the top 6 with Cassie Wellman (20:29.45) taking 3rd, Sarah Grotberg (21:10.43) fourth and (21:27.37) Naomi Dummer sixth. Violet McConn (23:57.40) and Julia Anderson (24:04.64) finished 15th and 17th, respectively.
“Cassie had an improvement of 25 seconds from last year at this race and the Dynamic Duo of Sarah Grotberg and Naomi Dummer dropped two minutes and one minute, respectively from last year at this race, commented Fergus Falls Head Coach Niki Welde. Violet came in strong for us with Julia Anderson. Hannah Scharnberg was in the two minute club and Jenna Thorson dropped 3 minutes! They are off to an unbelievable start and I am very excited for them.”
Welde also liked what she saw from the Middle School girls, “They looked strong with some new faces in the group. Lydia Uggerud and Olivia Budke dropped minutes off their time from last year also. Natalie Gerner helped round out the top 3 for the Otters. It’s always good to get this first race under your belt.”
Full results can be found at https://results.wayzatatiming.com/meets/26970
l-r: Brynn Blondeau, Jenna Thorson, Sarah Grotberg, Hannah Scharnberg, Naomi dummer, Julia Anderson, Violet McConn (not pictured Cassie Wellman)PHOTO by RACHEL TUEL
