Cross Country runners stride toward the finish

The cross country season is winding down and the team is having a lot of success.

Last night the Cross Country teams competed at the Westosha Central Falcon Invite and both Varsity teams ran to 3rd place finishes out of 12 teams.  Earning medals for the girls were junior Alyssa Dobbs, placing 7th, sophomore Emma Polenske placing 8th and sophomore Kelsey Sodemann placing 13th.

Winning medals for the boys were senior Job Roloff, placing 4th, junior Ryan Unruh, placing 6th and sophomore Logan Lutz, placing 13th.  There were several personal best times set as the teams prep for the Woodland Conference Meet next Thursday at Greenfield Park.

“We have front of the pack runners for both boys and girls. Roloff has had an awesome season. He was 3rd at the first five meets than 1st and now a 4th,” Cross Country Coach Corey Binnebose said. “Unruh has earned a medal at all the meets. Polenske and Dobbs have been switching back and forth as our top girl runner and earn medals at all of our meets also.”

The teams competed in Mukwonago against 17 other schools last Thursday.  Roloff was the overall boys champion, running a PR of 16:15 for the 3.1 mile distance and Unruh earned a medal with a PR 17:10 for 13th place.  

For the girls team Polenske placed 9th with her season best of 20:07 and Dobbs placed 14th with a PR of 20:13.

Polenske thought the meet went really well.

“I feel like my performance went very well and I got a season PR, but I also was a little bit upset because I really wanted to break 20 and I was so close,” she said.

Dobbs also thought the meet was a success.

“The last meet went pretty well for me; I ran a PR of 20:16, which was slightly off my goal of 20:00, but that has just motivated me moreso to break 20 at the next race!” she said. “From this race, I gained some more confidence moving forward and have learned that the last 800 meters the past few days.”

As the team head into their final weeks they have some end of the season goals.

“I would really like to make it to state this year an individual or as a team,” Lutz said.

Like Lutz, Dobbs would like to make it to state this year.

“My goal is to make State either with my team or as an individual. Running is something I love to do and is my favorite part of the day, so to make it to the next level and compete against some of the best runners in Wisconsin would be a great experience for me,” she said.

Polenske would like to get a faster time.

“My goals for the end of the season if to get an all-time PR of 19:30 and make it state like I did last year but also have some of my other teammates make it as well,” she said.

The reason the athletes like cross country varies from athlete to athlete.

“I like cross country because running is extremely underrated,” Roloff said.

Dobbs enjoys the friendship she formed with teammates.

“Cross Country has given me the opportunity to compete in something I enjoy doing on the daily, which has made me a tough competitor and strengthened my work ethic.” she said. “Running with my teammates is always fun, and I have met some of my closest friends through this sport; I’ll be especially sad when the seniors leave this year because I’ve grown so close them.”

Binnebose has high hopes for the end of the season.

“Goals for the end of the season are, top 3 team finishes at Conference for both boys and girls, State qualifier for both boys and girls. If our teams are unable to get to State we have at least 3 boys and 3 girls capable of qualifying individually for State,” he said.