Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Hawks run faster times at Okoboji Invitational
Lexi Croatt sets her sights on the finish line at the Okoboji Invitational. She finished 42nd overall in the varsity race.
Ryan Grotluschen rounds the final curve on his way to a 30th-place finish at the Okoboji Invitational.
Times for Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn cross country runners at the Okoboji Invitational were generally faster than they were at the same venue a year ago. Runners from 18 area schools competed on Aug. 31 at the Emerald Hills Golf Club.
All of the Hawk boys who competed there a year ago ran faster times in 2023. Leading the way was George Vargas, who finished 15th with a time of 18:20. He was followed by Ryan Grotluschen, 30th, 19:47; Aiden Bush, 34th, 20:20; Damian Dodge, 43rd, 21:19; and Blaine Finster, 50th, 21:32. Freshman Easton Teal, running in his first varsity race, placed 68th with a time of 23:18.
Sioux Center won a close battle with the hosts in the team standings. The Warriors scored 37 points while Okoboji was second with 40. Other results were Sioux Central 91, Sibley-Ocheyedan 93, Cherokee 116, H-M-S 145, George-Little Rock/Central Lyon 186, West Lyon 191 and South O'Brien 223.
Times for the H-M-S girls also showed improvement. Lexi Croatt turned in the best finish, placing 42nd with a time of 23:56. Gracie Knobloch finished 48th, 25:01; Kamryn Ebel placed 58th, 27:42; Jocelyn Abonce was 60th, 28:12; and Clara Funk came in 64th, 29:44.
The Sioux Center girls dominated the field, scoring 29 points. Sioux Central was the runner-up team with 80. Other schools with complete teams were Okoboji 82, Cherokee 86, G-LR/CL 96, Emmetsburg 147 and H-M-S 200.
In the JV races, Kamrynn Visser placed 62nd with a time of 35:11, while Carter Dolphin was 40th, 26:41; Parker Salton was 41st, 27:21; and Moises Gonzalez was 44th, 29:02.
H-M-S competes at West Lyon on Sept. 11 and at Sioux Central on Sept. 14.
