Heat takes a toll on runners - Waupaca County Post

Weyauwega-Fremont’s Daisy Wilson (left) turned in a time of 22:59.5, followed by Lomira’s Christina Biffert at 23:00 and Clintonville’s Brooke Wespetal at 23:02.4. Holly Neumann Photo

Waupaca’s Hunter Smith is able to pass Pacelli’s Thomas Basala to finish fifth in the boys’ race. Holly Neumann Photo

Trenton Niemi concentrates while running in the boys’ race for Iola-Scandinavia. Holly Neumann Photo

Duane Brazil turned in a time of 20:56.6 for Weyauwega-Fremont. Holly Neumann Photo

Runners from Waupaca and Marion take off at the start of the girls’ race at the Iola-Scandinavia T-Bird Invitational. Greg Seubert Photo

Iola-Scandinavia’s Jada Beacom is surrounded by Amherst runners at the halfway point of the girls’ race. She finished 26th overall, while teammates Erika Kisting and Leighten Fischer placed second and sixth, respectively. Holly Neumann Photo

Waupaca’s Mitchell Rotta leads a group of runners from Freedom, Pacelli and Wausau East at the Iola-Scandinavia T-Bird Invitational Sept. 1. Rotta finished second overall behind Freedom’s Travis Reiter and the Comet boys placed fourth overall behind Wausau East, Freedom and Seymour. Greg Seubert Photo

Trent Marheine led Clintonville at the Iola-Scandinavia T-Bird Invitational by placing 24th in the boys’ race. Holly Neumann Photo

Manawa’s Jared Zielke and Weyauwega-Fremont’s Andy Schroeder came into the finish line of the boys’ race at the Iola-Scandinavia T-Bird Invitational neck and neck. Holly Neumann Photo

Taylor Young’s 10th-place finish at the Iola Winter Sports Club helped the Clintonville girls place second at the Iola-Scandinavia T-Bird Invitational. Holly Neumann Photo

Kara Pyatskowit finished third overall with a time of 20:34.1 for Clintonville Sept. 1 at the Iola-Scandanavia T-Bird Invitational. The Clintonville girls finished second behind Freedom. Holly Neumann Photo

Iola-Scandinavia hosts cross country meet

By Greg Seubert

Teri Schernecker cheers on Manawa's cross country team at the Iola-Scandinavia T-Bird Invitational. Holly Neumann Photo — Teri Schernecker cheers on Manawa’s cross country team at the Iola-Scandinavia T-Bird Invitational. Holly Neumann Photo

Wausau East and Freedom claimed boys’ and girls’ championships, respectively, Sept. 1 at the Iola-Scandinavia T-Bird Invitational.

More than 20 varsity and middle school teams showed up for the annual cross country meet, held at the Iola Winter Sports Club grounds. Temperatures at the meet were in the low 90s and several ambulances and EMTs were on hand to assist the runners.

Team scores for the boys were Wausau East (46), Freedom (94), Seymour (105), Waupaca (119), Winneconne (137), Amherst (141), St. Mary Catholic (175), Bonduel (235), Wittenberg-Birnamwood (248), Oconto (271), Menominee Indian (308), Clintonville (317), Wabeno/Laona (340), Lomira (365), Weyauwega-Fremont (394) and Manawa (428). Iola-Scandinavia did not field a full team.

Waupaca’s Mitchell Rotta finished second in the boys’ race in 17:45, 12 seconds behind Freedom’s Travis Reiter.

Also placing for the Comets were Hunter Smith (fifth, 18:04); Ryan Esch (12th, 18:54); Danny Esch (45th, 20:38); Ben Waitrovich (55th, 21:06); Dayton Bell (85th, 23:06); and August Kuffel (93rd, 24:40).

Placing for Weyauwega-Fremont were Andy Schroeder (49th, 20:51); Duane Brazil (50th, 20:57); Austin Baehnman (92nd, 24:36); Glenn Walborn (98th, 25:29); Logan Feltz (105th, 28:34); and Jeffrey Lehman (109th, 33:49).

Placing for Manawa were Jared Zielke (48th, 20:50); Andrew Scheller (77th, 22:23); Sebastian Wagner (94th, 24:52); Scott Schneider (103rd, 27:49); Devin Loughrin (106th, 31:45); Thompson Moser (107th, 32:07); and Ethan Michalowski (108th, 33:11).

Placing for Clintonville were Trent Marheine (24th, 19:50); Cole Cotherman (32nd, 20:05); Isiah Torrez (72nd, 22:07); Anthony Pues (90th, 24:16); William Gwinn (99th, 25:42); Ben Cotherman (100th, 26:11); and Aaron Bovin (104th, 28:27).

Placing for Iola-Scandinavia were Erick Kriewaldt (62nd, 21:13); and Trenton Niemi (142nd, 25:01).

Team scores for the girls were Freedom (70), Clintonville (93), Wittenberg-Birnamwood (121), Wausau East (123), Amherst (157), Lomira (179), Winneconne (184), Iola-Scandinavia (197), Waupaca (233), Seymour (248), Weyauwega-Fremont (261), Marion (273), Bonduel (303), St. Mary Catholic (314) and Oconto (467). Manawa did not field a full team.

Michelle Petkovsek led Waupaca by placing seventh in 21:37. Also finishing for the Comets were Mya Snyder (46th, 24:18); Victoria Nowak (51st, 24:39); Ashley Jeske (53rd, 24:53); and Kristin Petkovsek (76th, 26:47).

Placing for Iola-Scandinavia were Erika Kisting (second, 20:27); Leighten Fischer (sixth, 21:30); Jada Beacom (26th, 23:11); Natalie Rustad (79th, 27:08); and Haley Ullom (84th, 28:16).

Placing for Weyauwega-Fremont were Caragan Volz (11th, 22:14); Daisy Wilson (20th, 23:00); Saylor Alberts (61st, 25:18); Marissa Mason (82nd, 27:30); and Emily Durrant (87th, 29:40).

Placing for Clintonville were Kara Pyatskowit (third, 20:35); Taylor Young (10th, 22:10); Jordan Tellock (16th, 22:33); Brooke Wespetal (22nd, 23:03); Bethany Klemp (42nd, 24:00); Clara Vo (68th, 25:55); and Jules Buttles (86th, 29:08).

Placing for Manawa were Lexi Smiles (99th, 27:57); Briana Severson (132nd, 30:43); and Jody Wentworth (133rd, 30:44).

Marion’s Delaney Greene-Gretzinger won the girls’ race in 19:58.