The Murray County Central/ Fulda Warriors hosted their home cross country meet on Tuesday, September 23, at the Slayton Golf Course. With the season hitting its midpoint, the Warriors put together strong performances across all levels, highlighted by a team victory in the boys’ varsity race.
In the boys’ varsity 5K, MCC/F came out on top with a winning score of 39 points. Sophomore Aiden Appel led the way for the Warriors, clocking 17:49 to place 5th overall. Junior Alexander Betz was close behind in 6th at 18:10, and senior Matthew Stapek finished 12th with a time of 18:29. Rounding out the scoring were juniors Beckett Stelter (16th, 20:24) and Micah Janssen (26th, 20:44). Also competing for the varsity squad were Wesley Hause (30th, 21:26), Tyler Reith (50th, 22:00), Yordi Oliverdos (55th, 24:12), Walker Biren (70th, 26:02), Carson Sykora (72nd, 30:49), and Elijah Conway, who set a personal record in 32:30.
On the girls’ side, the varsity 5K team finished 5th overall with 141 points. Junior Laiken Farris paced the Warriors with an 8th-place finish in 20:42. Ninth-grader Mara Clarke ran 22:22 for 17th, while sophomore Holland Vogel came through in 39th at 24:02. Eighth-grader Isabela Schreier finished 74th in 26:14, and ninth-grader Johanna Pickard rounded out the scoring in 40:20.
The Warriors’ junior high boys’ team had a standout day, winning the 2400-meter race with just 18 points. Eighth-grader Carter Larson led the charge with a personal-best 8:43 to place 3rd overall. Teammates Conner Pieske (4th, 9:07), Kole Appel (6th, 9:14), and Garret Reith (13th, 9:19) all hit PRs as well. Bobby Keller (18th, 9:38) and Allen Ahrens (10:02, 22nd) also ran their fastest times of the season.
The junior high girls’ squad earned a 3rd-place team finish with 68 points. Seventhgrader Alexis Pickard led the way, running a PR of 11:23 for 14th place. Close behind were eighth-grader Hadley Harms (16th, 11:40) and seventhgrader Sophia Hamersma (25th, 11:46). Seventh-grader Cassie Scandrett (27th, 12:37 PR) and eighth-grader Tessa Ahlquist (29th, 13:04 PR) completed the scoring.
With strong midseason results, the Warriors look to continue building momentum as they head into the latter half of their schedule.
