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Perham shines at home, despite weather
Published 10:16am Friday, October 5, 2012PERHAM — In a cold, rainy and just plain yucky day, the Perham Yellowjacket Cross Country team was able to take a first and second place finish at their home invite Thursday.
The Yellowjacket boys won on their own course as they blew by the competition. Moorhead finished in second at the event, while Pelican Rapids took the third place podium.
Area teams, Ottertail Cental and West Central Area, finished in eighth and ninth, repectively.
Continuing his dominance this season, Perham’s Keeghan Hurley took first place at the meet with a time of 16:00 followed by teammates Brady Speicher (16:18) and Billy Beseman (16:21), who rounded out the top three.
All seven yellowjacket runners finished in the top 20 at the event.
Cody Bekkerus took seventh place finish for Pelican Rapids with a time of 16:43.30, while Ottertail Central’s Ben Himmelspach finished in 33rd (18:26.10) and West Central’s Devin Nelson took 44th (19:04.10).
In the girls event, Perham took runner-up honors as the Moorhead Spuds captured the team meet. Little Falls rounded out the top three.
Pelican Rapids (fifth), West Central Area (sixth) and Ottertail Central also competed.
The Yellowjackets’ Brynnan Covington finished 10th in the event with a time of 16:00, while teammate Sydney Karels finished right behind her for 11th (16:02).
Pelican Rapids’ Emily Bakken led the Viking runners with a sixth place finish (15:53.80). Tiana Wald also had a great day for the Vikings running a time of 15:58.20 for ninth place.
Other top area finishers include West Central’s Abby VanKampen (18th, 16:27.90) and Ottertail Central’s Katie Wicklund (55th, 17:49.70).
“The weather wasn’t ideal but cross country kids are one of a kind,” Perham coach Jeff Morris. “We are proud that they compete and have fun regardless of the conditions.”
The Yellowjackets will get another shot at their home course at Arvig Park as they host the Heart O’Lakes Confere33nce Championship Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.
The Perham boys will look to add another conference title to their 10 in a row, while the girls are working on their ninth.
Boys team results: 1. Perham 17; 2. Moorhead 64; 3. Pelican Rapids 110; 4. Little Falls 117; 5. Detroit Lakes 129; 6. Park Rapids 141; 7. D-G-F 216; 8. Otter Tail Central 234; 9. West Central Area 259; 10. United North Central 311; 11. Wadena-Deer Creek 333; 12. Frazee 337.
Boys individual results: (PER) 1. Keeghan Hurley 16:00; 2. Brady Speicher 16:18; 3. Billy Beseman 16:21; 5. Jayden Cullen 16:28; 6. Dalton Dahms 16:42; 9. Nick Carignan 16:51; 16. Ben Sullivan 17:39. (PR) 7. Cody Bekkerus 16:43.30; 19. Jesus Romero 17:46.80; 23. Josh Mackner 17:52.40; 27. Erik Lynnes 18:09.70; 34. Mahad Aden 18:28.30; 37. Tristan Wald 18:34.80; 40. Samuel Cruz 18:52.90 (WCA) 44. Devin Nelson 19:04.10; 50. Ethan Olson 19:20.30; 52. Tyler Schill 19:30.80; 55. Ryley Nelson 19:36.60; 58. Bryce Paulson 19:49.60 (OTC) 33. Ben Himmelspach 18:26.10; 42. Charlie Frost 18:55.00; 49. Matthew Olson 19:11.30; 54. Jacob Wicklund 19:34.00; 56. Kyle Klintworth 19:45.50; 59. Tyler Ranstad 19:50.80.
Girls team results: 1. Moorhead 22; 2. Perham 79; 3. Little Falls 93; 4. Detroit Lakes 104; 5. Pelican Rapids 126; 6. West Central Area 197; 7. Park Rapids 204; 8. United North Central 208; 9. Wadena-Deer Creek 237; 10. D-G-F 247
Girls individual results: (PER) 10. Brynnan Covington 16:00; 11. Sydney Karels 16:02; 16. Ciarrin Covington 16:17; 20. Lizzie Fudge 16:31; 23. Racole Karels 16:37; 30. Maren Anderson 16:49; 37. Mary Riestenberg 17:03. (PR) 6. Emily Bakken 15:53.80; 9. Tiana Wald 15:58.20; 24. Charlotte Johnson 16:40.60; 43. Ashlyn French 17:54.80; 44. Emma Hoover 17:57.20; 47. Alexa Bekkerus 18:05.90; 60. Megan Albright 19:37.40. (WCA) 18. Abby VanKampen 16:27.90; 25. Kylee Fernholz 16:45.20; 41. Demara Baumgardner 17:43.60; 55. Hannah Frisch 18:27.90; 58. Ashton Blair 18:53.80 (OTC) Katie Wicklund 18:27.9017:49.70; Maddie Iverson 18:34.80.
