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Wisconsin State Meet 2015 XC Recap - DyeStatPublished by
Gessner, Roberts rise to the occasion
By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor
Finn Gessner and Aubrey Roberts both waited for their turn to be a Division I cross country champion in Wisconsin.
Gessner, a junior from Madison La Follette, was fifth last year. The four guys in front of him all cleared out due to graduation and Gessner seized his opportunity on a wet, slippery day at The Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids. He ran 15:44.60, about nine seconds faster than he did in 2014 with drier, faster course conditions.
PHOTOS - by Murray Schukar and Carol Chen
Gessner’s team, however, finished second. Kimberly won its first state title with 80 points, led by twins Nicholas and Derek Rink, who were third and 13th, respectively. The team also held big advantages against runner-up Madison La Follette with its fourth and fifth runners.
Roberts, a senior from Eau Claire Memorial, was second in 2014. She ran 24 seconds faster and ran to a dominant 38-second victory, in 17:49.98. Roberts also led her team to the championship with 117 points. Arrowhead was second with 169.
Pewaukee swept the D2 boys and girls championships. The boys won with 85 points. Wisconsin Lutheran, which had won the previous two years, was second with 102. Daniel Pederson from Spooner ran 16:07.3 for the win.
The Pewaukee girls scored 112 points and beat runner-up Shorewood by 26. Alicia Monson of Amery won the D2 girls title with 18:29.
In Division 3, Darlington’s boys won for the fifth straight time and put its five scorers in the top 15. Kevin Koski from Chequamegon won the race in 16:02.6.
Alissa Niggeman of Amherst won the D3 girls race in 19:00.4. She beat Elena Schmidt of Westby by a second. Lourdes Academy won the team title with 98 points. |