Panthers run well at WD

     Monticello’s cross country teams took advantage of a pleasant late afternoon for running, but in different ways.

     The girls did so by finishing third in the Western Dubuque Invitational, behind only Dubuque Wahlert and Decorah, which happen to be the top two-ranked teams in Class 3A.

     The boys did so, at the same meet, by setting six season best times among their varsity and JV runners.

     The girls were led by Paige Holub, who finished second overall in the varsity race.

     “Paige has been very consistent,” Monticello coach Dan Sauser said. “We know what we’re going to get out of her.”

     The coach also praised Emily Schlarmann and Lauren Lambert, who set personal records while finishing 30^th and 32^nd overall.

     “They’ve done a nice job of stepping into those spots,” Sauser said.

     Taylor McDonald and Gabrielle Steiner were 18^th and 23^rd. In all, the Panthers’ top five runners were separated by 2:09, which is the shortest gap this season.

     “The signs are looking good,” the coach said.

     A highlight of the varsity boys’ race was a breakout performance by freshman Zach Chapman, who was the team’s fourth runner, finishing 78^th overall.

     “That was outstanding on his part,” Sauser said.

     Overall, the boys finished 12^th of 21 teams, led by Aaron Loes, who was 25^th overall. Cole Cruise was just a few seconds off his season best, finishing second on the team and 44^th in the race.

     “Zach and Cole were real bright spots,” the coach said. “But I thought all the boys competed well.”

     In the JV races, Monticello’s girls were fourth and boys were 10^th.

     Rachel Larabee and Katie Sauser had season-best times, and coach Sauser said Sydney Ballou and Olivia Kremer also ran well.

     For the boys, there were five season bests: from Levi Temple, Jayden Orcutt, Noel Halder, T.J. Nealson and Janik Chally.

     “The team finishes weren’t where we want our finishes to be,” the coach said, “but if we’re working hard and our performances are getting better, that’s what we’re looking for.”

North Linn times change

     Times for the races at North Linn Saturday, Oct. 7 have changed from the schedule that was released at the start of the season.

     Varsity girls will run at 8:10 a.m., varsity boys at 8:40 a.m., middle school girls at 9:10 a.m., middle school boys at 9:30 a.m., JV girls at 9:50 a.m., and JV boys at 10:20 a.m.

     Also, some Monticello JV runners will race in the varsity races so that they can still make it to a marching band competition in Cedar Rapids later Saturday morning.

Sept. 28

Western Dubuque Inv.

(at Epworth)

VARSITY GIRLS TEAM SCORES

     1, Dubuque Wahlert 60; 2, Decorah 62; 3, Monticello 97; 4, Anamosa 130; 5, Cedar Rapids Kennedy 151; 6, Cascade 172; 7, Springville/Central City 206; 8, DeWitt Central 216; 9, Bellevue Marquette 219; 10, Western Dubuque 228; 11, Cedar Rapids Prairie 349; 12, Independence 356; 13, West Delaware 361; 14, Dyersville Beckman 389; 15, Alburnett 425; 16, Maquoketa 450;

MONTICELLO RESULTS

     2, Paige Holub, 19:27; 18, Taylor McDonald, 20:55; 23, Gabrielle Steiner, 21:11; 30, Emily Schlarmann, 21:34; 32, Lauren Lambert, 21:36; 38, Jordyn Patterson, 21:54; 50, Keeley Anderson, 22:42.

VARSITY BOYS TEAM SCORES

     1, Cedar Rapids Kennedy 42; 2, Decorah 65; 3, Bellevue 90; 4, Dubuque Wahlert 98; 5, Cedar Rapids Prairie 109; 6, Western Dubuque 195; 7, Anamosa 215; 8, DeWitt Central 243; 9, Calamus-Wheatland 249; 10, Southwestern/Benton/Cuba City (Wis.) 269; 11, West Delaware 276; 12, Monticello 285; 13, Springville/Central City 457; 14, Cascade 464; 15, Easton Valley 473; 16, Independence 478; 17, Bellevue Marquette 491; 18, Alburnett 507; 19, Maquoketa 540; 20, Dyersville Beckman 607; 21, Clayton Ridge 617.

MONTICELLO RESULTS

     25, Aaron Loes, 17:38; 44, Cole Cruise, 18:33; 59, David Titman, 18:53; 78, Zach Chapman, 19:23; 79, Jasper Nietert, 19:27; 86, Ryan Oswald, 19:43; 88, Austin Timm, 19:52.

JV GIRLS TEAM SCORES

     1, Decorah 18; 2, Western Dubuque 76; 3, Dubuque Wahlert 78; 4, Monticello 98; 5, Cedar Rapids Kennedy 100; 6, Cedar Rapids Prairie 191; 7, West Delaware 214; 8, Anamosa 260; 9, DeWitt Central 270; 10, Dyersville Beckman 271;

MONTICELLO RESULTS

     9, Rachel Larabee, 22:20; 20, Sydney Ballou, 23:28; 22, Lizzie Petersen, 23:35; 31, Natalie Newhard, 24:08; 35, Olivia Kremer, 24:18; 45, Jaelyn Graver, 25:08; 53, Dru Kramer, 25:22.

JV BOYS TEAM SCORES

     1, Cedar Rapids Kennedy 20; 2, Cedar Rapids Prairie 72; 3, Decorah 81; 4, Dubuque Wahlert 87; 5, Bellevue 145; 6, Western Dubuque 147; 7, West Delaware 233; 8, Calamus-Wheatland 252; 9, DeWitt Central 264; 10, Monticello 284; 11, Anamosa 303; 12, Independence 373; 13, Alburnett 400.

MONTICELLO RESULTS

     40, Carter Cruise, 19:54; 85, Alan Janssen, 20:52; 94, Levi Temple, 21:11; 98, Jayden Orcutt, 21:21; 104, Ethan Martensen, 21:23; 125, Gavin Baugh, 21:56; 132, Noel Halder, 22:07.