Johnson leads boys cross country to sixth

This article submitted by matt Jorgensen on 10/8/96.

The Paynesville Bulldog cross country team competed in their last regular season meet of the season last Tuesday, Oct. 1, in Sauk Centre.

The varsity team ran a disappointing race, finishing in sixth place out of twelve complete teams. This may not seem that bad, but for this team, it is.

ìI think the entire teamís individual performances were down. Everybody could have run better,î coach Bill Ochs said.

ìWeíve competed in eight meets so far this season and I think that weíve just lost the fire and excitement,î senior Matt Jorgensen said.

The teamís first runner was once again Dan Johnson. Johnson was disappointed with his 25th place finish.

ìI was shooting for the top ten. I don't know what happened,î he said.

Senior Doug Utsch was the teamís second runner in 34th place. Matt Jorgensen followed him in 36th. Both runners ran strong races but have more potential than that.

Eighth grader Clayton Lang was the fourth runner for the team in 41st place. This was Langís first career varsity race. He is going to be a very important member of the varsity team.

Luke Trees finished in 42nd place, one second behind Lang. Trees continues to run strong in his first year of cross country.

The team's sixth and seventh runners were Andrew Heinen in 45th and Ryan Louis in 55th.

The team is looking forward to redemption at the West Central Conference championship meet tomorrow, Oct. 10, at 4:30 p.m. in Litchfield

Team standings
1) Sartell, 38
2) Sauk Rapids, 74
3) Sauk Centre, 119
4) Albany, 124
5) WWD, 155
6) Paynesville, 178
7) Pierz, 178
8) New London-Spicer, 209
9) Apollo, 217
10) LPGE, 217
11) Holdingford, 227
BBE, incomplete
Minnewaska, incomplete

Individual results
25) Dan Johnson, 17:37
34) Doug Utsch, 17:55
36) Matt Jorgensen, 17:57
41) Clayton Lang, 18:08
42) Luke Trees, 18:09
45) Andrew Heinen, 18:15
55) Ryan Louis, 18:38

Junior varsity
The only two Bulldogs in the junior varsity race were Josh Frenchick and Eric ìWerlî Werlinger. They ran strong races with 30th and 31st places respectively.

There were some complications in the recording of the places and times of the junior high race. However, the team ran an excellent race, finishing in fourth place out of thirteen teams.


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