Boys, girls are runners-up

Raiders place second at Three Lakes meet

By Casey Krautkramer

Marathon’s varsity boys cross country team took second place at Thursday’s Three Lakes Invitational by edging out Rhinelander by only one point. Marathon’s varsity girls cross country squad place third, only one point out of second place.

Longtime head coach EJ Otto is back this season and his assistant cross country coach is Gina Smith. The middle school coach is Lindsay Johnson.

Marathon’s top returning boys cross country runners are seniors Jacob Smith, Derek Vesely, Eddie Hall, Brandon Gitzlaff and Andrew Glennon and sophomores Gavin Matthiae, Brayden Pintor and Nick Falkowski. Marathon’s top returning girl cross country runners are juniors Shilo Blake, Kennedy Blake, Katie Cliver, Alexandria Matthiae, Danica Paszek, Cayden Sapinski, Cally Fieri and Jayden Henrichs and sophomore Mya Yach.

The Red Raiders’ top boys newcomers on the varsity squad are sophomores Blake Underwood, John Kahon and Ethan Huebsch and freshmen Logan Peters and Matthew Kindlarski.

Marathon’s top girls newcomers on the varsity team are freshmen Aubrey Fieri, Greenley Treankler and Brooke Lang.

Jaren Gage was the only Marathon cross country runner to qualify for the state race last season, but he graduated in spring.

“It is many times about offseason training and having the talent to compete at a high level,” Otto said. “The sectional we were in last year was as good as the state meet, so it was a credit to Jaron for him to focus in and compete against quality competition.”

Marathon’s varsity boys squad barely missed qualifying for the state championships last season, by falling only one point shy of Gillett at the Athens sectional race. The top two teams from each sectional advance to state and Gillett took second place in Athens.

“It would be great to get both teams to the state meet because that tells you that you had a great year,” Otto said. “Our boys know how the end turned out and the ones that did participate gave 110 percent effort as they gave one of the best teams in the state all they could handle. They now know it is their turn to stop up and compete. The girls know how close the boys were and know they must work a little harder as the boys do than everyone else to achieve their goals.”

Otto outlines the boys and girls team goals this season.

“As always we want to compete with each team against the different courses and elements,” he said. “If you can do that, then you will have a great season. Marathon cross country always wants to be in the mix each meet it runs, get better each meet and eventually compete for conference and sectional titles and qualify for state.”