CROSS COUNTRY

The Canby/Minneota boys cross country team had a perfect score in the Tracy-Milroy-Balaton Triangular last Thursday, while the girls also finished first in the meet.
"I know I used this before, but I have to say again that I am so proud of our runners," said Coach Allyson Pesek.
"These meets with only three teams are tough. It makes races that much more of a mental game."
After missing the first two meets of the season due to being installed in distance learning and not being able to compete, the Minneota contingent joined their Canby teammates for this meet.
"It was so nice to have our Minneota teammates back," said Pesek. "They all ran great after only two practices back."
In the boys race, Blake Stoks led a C/M sweep of the top five spots. He finished first with a time of 17:34. Kolton Duis was second in 18:43, followed by Zach Ourada in 19:06, Tristan Biershenk in 19:35 and Blake Giese in 19:38. Isaac Bach was seventh in 19:40.
Canby/Minneota won the race with 15 points, while Tracy-Milroy-Balaton and Russell-Tyler-Ruthton each finished with 57 points (TMB was declared the runner-up based on a tiebreaker).
The Canby/Minneota girls finished first with 18 points, while Russell-Tyler-Ruthton came in second with 39 points Tracy-Milroy-Balaton had an incomplete team.
Canby/Minneota took the top four places with Grace Drietz first in 19:36, Claire Stoks second in 20:44, Braelyn Merritt third in 21:08, and McKenzie Ruether fourth in 21:18. Rachel Wollum came in 11th in a time of 25:40.
"Looking back at last year's Tracy results and comparing them to last night, we all had improvements," said Pesek. "I tell the kids it is hard to compare course to course but when we can look back at last year and see improvements that is awesome."
Canby/Minneota competes today (Sept. 24) in its home opener in Canby at 6 p.m. against Central Minnesota Christian School and Ortonville.
The Oct. 8 meet previously scheduled to be held in Canby will now be held in Granite Falls.