Austin boys cross country team takes first in Hayfield

By Herald staff (Contact) | Austin Daily Herald

Originally published 12:15 a.m., September 5, 2008
Updated 12:15 a.m., September 5, 2008

The Austin boys cross country team had a pack of runners near the front in the Hayfield Invite, where it took first place as a team and had seven runners in the top 12.

“We kind of talked about this meet as the one we do well in and it was a pretty dominating performance,” Austin head coach Tony Einertson said.

Austin’s Kevin Dammen edged out his brother Kyle Dammen for the top spot as he won by four seconds.

“Kevin took it hard, while Kyle took it nice and easy and Kevin held on,” Einertson said. “It was fun to watch the two brothers race each other while using different styles.”

Christian Folken took fourth, Tim Erickson took fifth and Ben Bachmeier took sixth for Austin.

For the Austin girls team, eighth grader Haley Splinter took third place, while the team finished sixth.

“Haley’s starting to gain a little more confidence every time she goes out,” Einertson said. “We’re trying to get her into the mode where she can run with the best runners and she’s starting to do that.”

Pacelli High School had two runners in the meet as Colin Sheehan finished eighth and Michael Bergstrom was 31st.

Sheehan dropped 42 seconds from his time at Hayfield last year and Bergstrom dropped 47 seconds off his time in the first meet of the year.

“It was a great day to run,” Pacelli head coach Jim Parlin said. “Our runners showed improvement from last week.”

Hayfield Cross Country Invite

Thursday in Hayfield

Area teams results

BOYS

1. Austin 18

2. John Marshall 65

3. Byron 77

4. Hayfield 106

5. Chatfield 128

6. BP 140

Austin

Kevin Dammen (first, 17:01); Kyle Dammen (second, 17:05); Christian Folken (fourth, 17:50); Tim Erickson (fifth, 17:55); Ben Bachmeier (18:03); Brandon Holtorf (12th, 18:49)

Pacelli

Colin Sheehan (eighth, 18:06); Michael Bergstrom (31st, 20:35)

Blooming Prairie

Jake Elwood (19th, 19:08); Tim Boecker (27th, 20:17); Soren Peterson (28th, 20:27)

Hayfield

Nathan Conroy (seventh, 18:04); Michael Kuehn (15th, 18:52); Clint Freiheit (24th, 19:40)

GIRLS

1. Mankato East 29

2. Chatfield 71

3. Byron 90

4. John Marshall 96

5. Hayfield 122

6. Austin 132

7. BP 143

Austin

Haley Splinter (third, 16:44); Kaitylnn Carroll (25th, 18:51); Katelyn Harder (31st, 19:06); Lauren Thompson (33rd, 19:10); Alyssa Schroeder (40th, 21:00)

Blooming Prairie

Jenna Paulson (15th, 17:47); Tricia DeBoer (18th, 18:13); Kelsey Kubista (35th, 19:28)

Hayfield

Courtney Severson (17th, 18:09); Metea Voyce (19th, 18:20); Lexi Anderson (22nd, 18:42)