The Prior Lake High School boys cross country team traveled to Anoka to compete in their first 5K race of the season.
It was the first time the team ran the course and runners had just come off a two-mile race at Rosemount where the course went around a construction site. What the team didn’t expect was the obstacles Mother Nature threw their way. The temperature was brisk for early September and the on-and-off again downpours were the main challenges.
The Lakers were shivering and soaked but conquered the challenges. The junior varsity team raced first, had a respectable showing with half of the runners being new to cross country and finished sixth out of 15 teams.
The varsity team ran the last race of the meet and earned a second place finish out of 14 teams competing. Six Lakers ran a sub-18 time, averaging less than six minutes per mile. Those Lakers were: freshman Isaiah Rock (placed 7th with a time of 16:42), senior Joe Gannon (9th – 16:44), senior Luke Schwandt (16th – 17:05), sophomore Tony Malinosky (29th – 17:37), sophomore Joe Basile (40th – 17:49) and senior Noah Wagner (44th – 17:57).
“They are such a wonderful group of guys that work so hard. I am truly blessed to coach them and I couldn’t be prouder of them,” Coach Missy Rock said following the meet. “More big things will continue to come this season!”
Next up for the Lakers is a 5 a.m. road trip to Decorah, Iowa, on Sept. 13 to compete at the All-American Invitational hosted by Luther College.
