Medford girls, Richter get second straight wins to start the season

MOSINEE CC INVITATIONAL

On flat ground at Nine Mile Recreation Area for the Mosinee Invitational, most times came down for Medford’s cross country team compared to Thursday’s opener at Timm’s Hill as the Raiders won the girls meet and placed fourth in the boys competition.

The girls got their second team win and Meredith Richter got her second individual win to start the season and both did so in convincing fashion.

As a team, Medford totaled 36 points to outscore runner-up Stratford by 20. Wausau East was third with 74 points, while Rhinelander (113) and Lakeland (117) rounded out the top five.

Richter won in 19:42, beating Antigo’s Lillian L’Esperance by 1:18. Stratford’s Breleigh Skaya was third in 21:15 and Medford’s Lindsay Kahn was fourth in 21:20, six seconds ahead of Lakeland’s Stella Meza. Raider Ella Daniels was seventh in 21:44.

Every one of Medford 16 girls runners improved over Thursday’s Timm’s Hill Invitational, which is typical considering the major differences in course layout.

Sophomore Morgan Liske finished 12th in Tuesday’s field of 87 runners in 22:25, while Mallory Richter was Medford’s fifth and final scorer by placing 19th in 23:13. The Raiders’ next wave included Lillie Gleichauf, 21st in 23:17; Ella Dassow, 22nd in 23:31, and Willow Dassow, 24th in 23:38.

Kylie Potvin was more than two minutes faster than Thursday, taking 37th place in 25:04, three seconds ahead of teammate Esme Anderson, who was almost 2:30 faster than Thursday. Riley Clark finished in 25:20, good for 43rd, Kayla Daniels placed 49th in 26:12 and Amy Espinoza was 54th in 27:07. Three of Medford’s newest runners, Lauren Stark (27:29), Lexi Hraby (27:57) and Abbie Marzinske (28:02), were 58th, 60th and 61st.

Crandon (146), Northland Pines (200) and Edgar (211) were sixth through eighth in the team standings. Adams-Friendship, Antigo, Mosinee and Spencer did not have enough runners to post team scores.

Tanner Hraby led Medford in the boys race, finishing sixth out of 90 runners with his time of 18:05. He got a taste of some of the competition he’ll face in October for All-Great Northern Conference positioning with Lakeland’s Owen Clark finishing second in 16:28, Rhinelander’s Grayson Gremban taking fourth in 17:37 and Lakeland’s Ashton Bremer placing fifth in 17:41. Crandon’s Taylor Karcz won with an impressive time of 16:14 and Stratford’s Cree DeFoe was third in 17:04.

The Raiders got an 18th-place finish from Logan Gubser in 19:47. Nick Steliga was 25th at 20:14, Brandon Curtis placed 31st at 20:32 and freshman Peyton Ried was the team’s fifth scorer, taking 36th in 20:50.

Medford scored 110 points and trailed GNC rivals Lakeland (33) and Rhinelander (72), as well as Stratford (90). The Raiders placed higher than Northland Pines (146), Crandon (155), Wausau East (162), Mosinee (188) and Edgar (211). Antigo and Spencer were incomplete.

Medford’s trio of Briggs brothers made their cross country debuts Tuesday. Hudson was Medford’s sixth man, taking 46th in 21:48, Hunter was 70th in 24:34 and Silas was 71st at 24:35. Evan Pagel was Medford’s seventh finisher, placing 60th in 23:01. Sophomore Cullen Jones had a much-improved run over Thursday and was 69th in 24:24.

Freshmen Logan Langdon (25:08), Nevyn Gripentrog (25:08) and Cash Carbaugh (25:24) were 75th, 76th and 78th.

Medford’s next meet is at the Marshfield Invitational on Tuesday. The meet is held at Wildwood Park.