Athletes compete in snowy conditions
By Erik Buchinger
Area athletes will be competing in the WIAA Cross Country Championships on Saturday, Oct. 27 after qualifying at snow-filled sectional races Saturday.
Freedom Sectional
The New London boys’ cross country team is headed to state after a second place finish at the Freedom Sectional on Saturday, Oct. 20.
Clintonville’s Jesse Wilson won the race and will compete at state on Saturday after running in 16:51.01.
“I really liked the first two miles, and I think that last mile I could have done a little bit better, but that weather was really bad,” Wilson said.
Wilson said the wind impacted his stride throughout the race.
Noah Schiedermayer finished in second place for New London in 16:59.95, Max Krause came in 15th place in 17:37.03 and Kaden Reybrock placed 16th in 17:37.07.
Schiedermayer said he has run well during snowy conditions.
“I think I did good because of it,” Schiedermayer said. “My two best races were today and last year at state, and it was snowing during both races. I don’t let it get to me, and I just think I do really good in the snow.”
After the race, New London head coach Nick Schaefer came onto the bus to announce the news.
“It’s pretty awesome,” Schiedermayer said. “When Schaefer came on to the bus and shouted, ‘We’re going to state,’ that was a pretty good feeling. The whole bus was roaring with excitement.”
In the girls’ race, New London’s Taya Fecteau will also be competing at state after running in 21:06.53 for a ninth place finish in the snow, which she said was not fun to run in at the beginning.
“It was terrible,” Fecteau said. “My face was completely numb, and it felt like razor blades on my face with the snow, but it was really nice when it got fluffy. I just used it as motivation because if I run faster I’ll get out of it sooner.”
Fecteau said she is excited to qualify for state individually despite the weather.
“I didn’t really have super high of expectations considering the weather,” Fecteau said. “I wasn’t too excited to run, but I’m glad it went well.”
Jasmine Wilson led the Truckers in the girls’ race with an 18th place finish.
Stevens Point Sectional
Hortonville’s Jake Krause finished in eighth place to qualify for state at the Stevens Point Sectional on Saturday, Oct. 20.
Krause ran through the snow and finished with a time of 16:39.9 for the Polar Bears.
Other finishers for Hortonville in the boys’ race included Clayton Rath, who finished 16th in 17:00.6, and Logan McGrath placed 18th in 17:01.3.
In the girls’ race, Alyssa Rafuse finished 10th to lead the Polar Bears in 20:12.2, and Lauren Buchinger placed 20th in 20:47.0. Chloe Byom ran to a 25th-place finish in 20:56.6.