Colby girls headed to state CC

The Colby girls cross-country team continues to make history in 2020. After winning an unprecedented third Cloverbelt Conference title, the team can now add state participant to its resume.

The Colby girls were victorious over the weekend, winning the WIAA D-2 sectional meet in Westby. The victory couldn’t get any closer, with Colby defeating Aquinas by a single point, 46 to 47.

The victory advances the Hornets to the WIAA state meet in Colby this Saturday for the sixth time in school history, and the first time since 1998.

Just getting to the sectional meet was a victory in itself. With concerns from COVID-19 running high, the WIAA capped the amount of teams that could compete at Saturday’s sectional meet.

This meant that cross-country teams from across the state had to race in a sub-sectional on Tuesday, Oct. 20, to qualify for the chance to qualify for the state meet.

For both cross-country teams this meant another trip to Spencer for yet another race at Frey Field. With the threat of an impending snow storm, the race was moved to the morning. The temps were frigid, but that didn’t stop the runners from blazing through the course, with five ladies and five boys collecting personal bests.

The girls took second out of nine teams, finishing with 65 points to Gale-Ettric-Trempeleau’s 47. The boys were just shy of advancing, taking third with 93 points, just behind Neillsville’s second place 89 points.

On the boys side, senior Chase Oehmichen was the only runner to advance to sectionals. Oehmichen once again ran a sub 17 minute race as he won the sub-sectional in a time of 16:56.

Talon Severson took 16th overall as he shattered his previous best by 35 seconds with his new PR of 19:03.

Abbotsford’s Matt Mateer was third for the boy’s co-op, taking 21st in 19:25, a personal best by eight seconds. Colby’s Richard Streveler and Carter Roth followed Mateer, taking 27th and 28th. Streveler and Roth both finish 2020 on a high note with personal bests, Streveler by 27 seconds in 19:57, breaking 20 minutes for the first time in his career.

Roth was almost right there, taking off 16 seconds from his previous best to finish with a new PR in 20:01.

Braxton Smith was the fifth and final runner through for the boys. Smith had a great day in Spencer, crushing his former PR by 33 seconds as he cruised to 37th place in 21:20.

The girls team was once again led by the big three of Willow Oehmichen, Daisy Feiten and Trinity Severson, who all placed inside the top ten.

Oehmichen took fifth overall in her time of 21:00. Feiten was right behind in her new PR of 21:07, an improvement by 21 seconds. Severson knocked off another ten seconds from former best, taking tenth in 21:46.

Mercedes Sarkkinen’s strong post season continued at Frey Field. After earning All-Conference honors for the first time in her career, Sarkkinen took 20th in 22:41. Payton Roth was right behind Sarkkinen, taking 21st in 23:02, a new PR by seven seconds.

Colby’s two freshmen phenoms Casey Reynolds and Regan Schraufnagel continued their excellent debut seasons, with both notching top 30 races.

Reynolds was 24th in 23:08, lopping off an astonishing 47 seconds from her previous top time. Schraufnagel took 27th in her time of 23:29, a dramatic PR of 28 seconds.

It was another cold day, but the sun shone bright on Saturday as the Colby girls and Chase Oehmichen dueled with some of the best runners in the state. On the line was a ticket to state.

Chase went out and stayed with the top runners, but unfortunately, his bid for a first ever trip to the state meet, with the race to be held in Colby, just barely slipped through his fingers as he placed 17th overall in 17:49.

“While Chase did not qualify for state, he has had an outstanding career here in Colby,” coach Bryon Graun said. “He is a four time all-conference runner, and only one of four athletes during my 11 years as a coach to break 17:00 . . . It has been an honor and a privilege to be Chase’s cross country coach these past four years.”

Amidst the bittersweet end to Oehmichen’s career, the girls achieved a feat not seen in over two decades, defeating Aquinas by one point to advance to Saturday’s WIAA D-2 state meet.

“It was an exciting day for the girls as they got a one point victory over Aquinas,” Graun said on a Facebook post to the Colby Hornets Booster Club page.

Willow Oehmichen paced the girls team, taking seventh overall in 21:19. Daisy Feiten was second through for Colby in 11th in 21:37. Trinity Severson was third for the ladies, taking 16th in 22:13. Mercedes Sarkkinen came fourth for the team, taking 22nd in 22:30.

Casey Reynolds pushed forward to finish as the fifth and final scoring runner, using a new PR of 22:53 to finish 27th. Reagan Schraufnagel and Payton Roth were the final runners through in 35th and 36th place in 23:35 and 23:43.

“This group of girls has molded into a great group of sisters working together for a common goal,” Graun said. “I am proud of all they have done, and am looking forward to another week with them as we prepare for state!”

PROUD CAREER -Chase Oehmichen ended his CC career at Westby. He finishes as a four time All-Conferencerecipient.TP FILE PHOTO