By LuAnn Schindler
Publisher
Off to a running start
Thiele, Wickersham set pace for XC racers
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September 12, 2019
Melissa Herley
Long distance runners • The Summerland Bobcats cross country team made its debut at the Wisner-Pilger Invite, Sept. 5, at Beemer. Eli Thiele and Kaci Wickersham earned medals. Team members include (front row, l-r): Danielle Schrunk, Adrienne Parker, Lauren Behnk, Wickersham, Coach Jamie Turpin: (back row, l-r): Coach Carrie Williamson, Elly Herley, Morgan Erhardt, David Arroyo, Tyler Hupp, Thiele, Alex Thiele and Spencer Kester.
Two Bobcat cross country runners finished in the medal hunt at the team's inaugural meet, Sept. 5.
At the Wisner-Pilger Invite, held at Indian Trails Country Club near Beemer, Eli Thiele finished fifth in the boys division, while Kaci Wickersham cracked the top 10, finishing 10th, in girls competition.
Head Coach Jamie Turpin said, I am excited to say we all successfully finished a very hard and hot meet and that we are going to only get stronger from here on out."
She said a lot of "big name schools" competed in the meet, including 17 boys' teams and 11 girls' squads.
Thiele completed the course in 19:18. David Arroyo placed 40th, running 22:12; Alex Thiele, 72nd, 24:02; Spencer Kester, 75th, 24:21 and Tyler Hupp, 101st, 30:05.
Overall, the Bobcats ended in 12th place, with a combined time of 1:29.54.
Thiele said, "It's pretty cool to be the first cross country team and performing well. We have the opportunity to start a legacy here at Summerland."
Wickersham finished in 23:56. Morgan Erhardt ended 39th, 29:48; Adrienne Parker, 43rd, 30:20; Lauren Behnk, 50th, 31:46 and Elly Herley, 63rd, 34:11.
The combined times put the Lady Bobcats in eighth place, with 1:55.51.
Wickersham said it means "a lot" to be a part of the inaugural team.
She added, "We are also the first to medal which is a pretty monumental event."
Both racers commented on the fortitude required to make it up "the hill," located on the last leg of the course.
"I definitely wasn't ready for the hill. It looked bad, but I didn't really realize it was going to be as bad as it was. I didn't take into account that I had already run two miles. Just had to buckle down and power up," Thiele said.
Wickersham said the course was pretty flat for the first two miles.
"Once we got to the hill, it took a lot of willpower to run up it without stopping. There were girls collapsing on the hill which made it even harder to keep going," she noted.
Turpin said some of the athletes were nervous for the first meet and encouraged them "to go out there and do the best that they can."
On Sept. 12, the team travels to Butte for the Boyd County Invite. Turpin said they've been preparing for the competition.
"Summerland Bobcats run as one, work as a team, and finish as a family," she said.
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