Stoks earns top spot for C/M

Blake Stoks has worked hard to become Canby/Minneota’s best cross country runner. “I put in a lot of miles this summer,” he said, indicating, “I’d say 30 to 50 miles a week.”

Tuesday it paid off when he finished seventh in the Camden Conference race. Much higher than that would have been difficult with Grifin Johnson, Mikey Kvaal and Zeke Sather of Lac qui Parle Valley/Dawson-Boyd hoarding the first three spots at the top of the heap. Johnson finished in 17:10 with Stokes at 17:49.

“It was kinda cold to start, but I just went with the flow,” said Stoks. “I guess the summer training paid off,” he added. The fact he didn’t appear winded in the cold at Stony Creek Golf Course in Renville seemed unusual.

“That surprised me. I took it easy at first because I didn’t want to get winded. You don’t want to wear yourself out too early,” he added.

Canby/Minneota took second in the meet, with a score of 70 behind Lac qui Parle Valley/Dawson-Boyd’s 20.

Adding to Stoks effort was Alexander Full in 11th place at 18:58; Eric Carrasco in 12th at 19:10; Tristan Bierschenk 13th in 19:16 and Kolton Duis in 14th at 19:16. Overall, it was a solid showing for the Canby/Minneota runners.

“It’s really been a fun year and it’s nice to be around these guys,” said Stoks, who actually is a Porter native. Teammate Eric Carrasco, in his first year on the team said, “It was really fun. I like running in the cold better than the heat,” he said.

“It’s easier on the lungs,” Carrasco added.

A Minneota wrestler, Carrasco likes the idea of going into the wrestling season in good shape. And he liked being part of the team.

“We all get along,” he said.