PL Cross Country Qualifiers

It was a first-ever section title for Foster, who won all but two races he ran in this season, and his third straight state meet.

The Patriots finished second with 68 points just five behind Esko's 63, with Eveleth-Gilbert third with 84, while Crosby-Ironton was fifth with 127, Pine River-Backus ninth with 288 and Northland-Deer River 16th with 393 in the 17-team field.

After Foster's first in 16:52, Kellen Braren was 10th in 17:30, Silas Lydeen 12th in 17:46, Adison Runberg 21st in 18:24, Jake Braam 33rd in 18:52, Jonas Dale 34th in 18:54 and Jacob Headlee 46th in 19:25.

The top two for the Rangers were a third by Peter Vukelich in 17:05 and an eighth by Keegan Leonard in 17:25, while for the Tigers, Travis Wheeler was 37th in 19:05 and Sam Hedberg 50th in 19:29.

"The last three years we were runner-up to earning a spot at State, so it was nice to break through and make it to State," said Coach Dale. "It's going to help us build our team and it's nice for the kids that they finally get to experience what it's like to make it to state as a team.

"The boys ran one of their better races as a team this year and it will help us find out how we stack up against Perham and Staples-Motley from our old section because they will be there as they finished 1-2," he added.

Beltz leads Patriots with personal-best

Kylie Beltz finished second with a personal-best time of 16:06 to lead the Patriot girls to a third place finish with 128 points.

Esko, with Kaycee Knutsen the individual winner in 15:33, won the title with 60 points, while Crosby-Ironton was second with 92 to qualify for state.

The Pine River-Backus Tigers were 14th with 380, one spot behind Northland-Deer River's 13th.

After the second by Beltz, Sydney Johnson was 17th in 17:11, Jordan Roy 25th in 17:40, Madison Engen 32nd in 17:55, Carica Braren 60th in 19:03, Ashley LaRock 76th in 19:51 and Christy Peterson 79th in 20:11.

The top three for the Rangers were a fifth by Christina Matson in 16:25, a 10th by Stacey Gustafson in 16:48 and 14th by Marie Abear in 17:03.

For the Tigers the top three were: a 46th by Kyra Taylor in 18:15, a 68th by KayLynn Carner in 19:28 and a 94th by Lydia Krecklau in 21:11.

"The girls did a good job as a team and weren't that far out of it," said Coach Dale, "and both Kate (assistant Kate Dale) and myself are proud of Kylie getting to state as she worked hard this summer, so this was well deserved. This will help the girls' program. Kylie is a great role model, just a nice kid and she ran a great race for us."

About having runners in the State Meet, Coach Dale said, "The kids are excited, coaches are excited and we're all looking forward, and they all will run hard and we'll see what happens down there."

Boys' team scores: 1-Esko 63, 2-Pequot Lakes 68, 3-Eveleth-Gilbert 84, 4-Proctor 114, 5-Crosby-Ironton 127, 6-International Falls 176, 7-Cook County-Silver Bay 189, 8-Virginia 232, 9-Pine River-Backus 288, 10-Mesabi East 294, 11-Cromwell-Floodwood 307, 12-Albrook 317, 13-Moose Lake-Willow River-Barnum 339, 14-Lake View Christian Academy 348, 15-Wrenshall 385, 16-Northland Deer River 393, 17-East Central 457.

Individual winner: Clayton Foster-(PL) 16:52.

PL results: 10-Kellen Braren 17:30, 12-Silas Lydeen 17:46, 21-Adison Runberg 18:24, 33-Jake Braam 18:52, 34-Jonas Dale 18:54, 46-Jacob Headlee 19:25.

PR-B results: 37-Travis Wheeler 19:05, 50-Sam Hedberg 19:29, 72-Joe Smith 20:40, 75-Patrick Rudlang 20:49, 84-Nate Smith 21:21, 101-Jeremy Leblanc 22:45, 102-Chris Rudlang 22:47.

Girls' team scores: 1-Esko 60, 2-Crosby-Ironton 92, 3-Pequot Lakes 128, 4-Mesabi East 133, 5-Virginia 147, 6-Cook County-Silver Bay 153, 7-Ely 168, 8-International Falls 184, 9-Marshall 198, 10-Carlton 253, 11-Cromwell-Floodwood 304, 12-Albrook 324, 13-Northland-Deer River 338, 14-Pine River-Backus 380, 15-Proctor 386, 16-Wrenshall 399, 17-Moose Lake-Willow River -Barnum 421.

Individual winner: Kaycee Knutsen (Esko) 15:33.

PL results: 2-Kylie Beltz 16:06, 17-Sydney Johnson 17:11, 25-Jordan Roy 17:40, 32-Madison Engen 17:55, 60-Carica Braren 19:03, 76-Ashley LaRock 19:51, 79-Kristie Peterson 20:11.

PR-B results: 46-Kyra Taylor 18:15, 68-KayLynn Carner 19:28, 94-Lydia Krecklau 21:11, 105-Jade Holly 22:40, 110-Kristle Peltier 23:05, 121-Kayla Peltier 25:30, 124-Franciscka Ellestad 26:50.

Next: Pequot Lakes, Crosby-Ironton at Class 1A state tournament, Saturday, Nov. 3.