Red Oak cross country steps up

Red Oak
Red Oak cross country teams traveled to Clarinda to compete in the Clarinda Invitational on Tuesday, Sept. 6. The  middle school, JV and varsity teams competed against teams from Iowa, Nebraska and Missouri. Other local competitors were Griswold and Southwest Valley.
We took a good step forward at the Clarinda meet,” Red Oak coach Curt Adams said. “Our varsity boys ran well as did the JV boys.”
Mario Alcaraz, a seventh grade student at Red Oak Middle School, finished second in the 3K run for middle school teams. Alcaraz had a time of 13:39. Ethan Horn finished 15th, Corbin Wolfe in 38th, and Xavier Ross in 56th place.
The JV boys team ended with Avery Graham in 12th place and leading the JV team in a time of 20:43 in the 5K run.
“Our six and seven varsity spots are being fought for by six athletes -  Ben Koppa, Avery Graham, Taylor Smith, Jake Sellers, Sean Griffen and Jacob Cashatt,” Adams said.
Other top 20 finishers for JV boys were Taylor Smith in 13th and Jake Sellers at 20th. The JV team placed fifth of the nine teams competing.
Varsity boys were led by Alec Selberg in a seventh place finish with a time of 18:19.
Weston Rolenc came in 12th and Liam Eubank in 18th in aiding the varsity in its fourth place finish among the 11.
“Alex showed he is as strong as ever, after knee surgery,” Adams said. “Weston is ready to compete at a high level and Liam Eubank has taken his running to the next level.”
The girls teams represented Red Oak well. The middle school leader was Alexa McCunn in second place with a time of 14:17. Other top 20 finishers were Aedynn Graham in 13th place and Maci Graber in 16th.
In JV action, Red Oak only had three competitors. Lainie Edie finished in 32nd place, Elsa Wemhoff in 33rd and Cendi Lemus in 50th. The JV team did not have enough competitors to count as a team for placement in the meet.
Varsity girls finished in ninth place led by Juhi Boeye with a 29th place finish and a time of 24:49.
“Coach French and I are very excited about the potential for this team,” Adams said. “Our goal is to work hard, compete hard, and do what it takes to qualify for state.”
This was only the second meet for some runners.

GRISWOLD, SOUTHWEST VALLEY
The Griswold girls varsity team finished in fourth place and Southwest Valley in tenth. Top 20 places from those schools were Charli Adams, 19th and Joanna Topham, 20th, both from Griswold.
Masilyn Hummel placed highest for Southwest Valley in 22nd place.
Boys varsity teams ended with Griswold in seventh and Southwest Valley in 10th. David Thompson, Griswold, finished in fourth place, and was the only boy to end in the top 20 from these two schools.
 Connor Haggerty led Southwest Valley with a 34th place finish.
The Southwest Valley middle school boys team had Kaden Jacobs in first place, followed by Joey Oathoudt in 25th and Brayden Avila in 44th. For the girls team from Southwest Valley, the placement is as follows: Aubrey Boswell, tenth; Halie Pearson, 20th; Sidney Westlake, 23; Joslynn Moore, 39th and Danna Shires, 40th.
Neither JV team from Southwest Valley posted a top 20th finisher, but Guerrillmo Mena scored a 48th position for the boys and Oakley Goodwin finished in 45th place for the girls.