Hot start to cross country season at Cherokee

The Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn cross country teams started their competitive season Aug. 27 at the Deb Hankens Invitational, held at Cherokee Golf and Country Club. The weather was hot and the course challenging for the season-opener.

"The temps were in the high-90s and the course was hilly. It was a really tough environment," Hawk coach Nicole Dorhout said. "I'm proud of the athletes who ran a tough 5,000-meter course."

The girls' team was led by junior Madison Otto's seventh-place finish and a medal for placing in the Top 10.

"Madison is looking really good already," Dorhout said. "She has a fire in her eyes like I've never seen before. I think she's focused on all the right things, and I'm so excited to see what she can do this season."

Competing for the first time as high school cross country runners were sophomore Ashleigh Vermeer and freshman Lexi Croatt. Vermeer placed 25th and Croatt 28th.

"I was really impressed with these two," said Dorhout. "Ashleigh has never even run a cross country meet before, and Lexi has never done the 5,000-meter distance. They both ran really well. They learned a lot about the high school distance and toughed it out in a really challenging environment."

Rounding out the girls' performances were sophomores Jaela Anliker and Juliana Pasillas, who placed 34th and 35th.

"These girls mainly ran JV last year," Dorhout said, "but I think they'll be doing more varsity this season. They are a real asset to our team."

On the boys' side, all five competitors were in the varsity race. Sophomore Bryce Dodge led the charge, placing 22nd. Following Dodge were freshman George Vargas in 29th, junior Mitchell Meyers in 32nd, freshman Gavin Faulkner in 33rd and senior Connor Pasillas in 34th place.

"This team is very young and very inexperienced, so my goal for them was to get a 5K race under their belts and then build from there," Dorhout said. "On a hot day, we just wanted to get a race completed. Now we can continue to train and improve each week."

The Hawks will go to Okoboji on Sept. 3 and to Sibley on Sept. 8.

DEB HANKENS INVITATIONAL

Girls' Varsity: Madison Otto, 7th, 23:58; Ashleigh Vermeer, 25th, 29:19; Lexi Croatt, 28th, 30:22; Jaela Anliker, 34th, 35:20; Juliana Pasillas, 35th, 38:59.

Girls' Team Scores: Cherokee 28, Ridge View 57, South O'Brien 66, Gehlen Catholic 107, Alta-Aurelia 110, H-M-S 129.

Boys' Varsity: Bryce Dodge, 22nd, 25:12; George Vargas, 29th, 29:38; Mitchell Meyers, 32nd, 31:44.62; Gavin Faulkner, 33rd, 31:44.87; Connor Pasillas, 34th, 35:27.

Boys' Team Scores: Cherokee 31, South O'Brien 60, Ridge View 64, Alta-Aurelia 67, H-M-S 131.