Area high school teams compete in sectional cross-country meets

Murray County Central/Fulda was the highest team finisher in the boys division of the Section 3A cross country meet Thursday in Luverne. Redwood Valley paced the team standings; among other area schools competing were Windom Area (second, qualifying for state), Luverne (sixth), Jackson County Central (eighth) and Adrian-Ellsworth (13th).

Windom Area's Bryce Green was second individually. Among the other top finishers were: Luverne's Marcus Papik, sixth; JCC's David Botello Ramos, 10th; MCC/Fulda's Micah Janssen, 12th, and Aiden Appel, 14th; Windom Area's Nolan Tjentland, 15th; Luverne's Kane Waddington, 17th; Windom Area's Caelen Ralston, Braylen Lyons and Isaac Bordewyk, who were 18th, 22^nd and 24th; and Carter Larson of MCC/Fulda, 27th. Papik and Botello Ramos were among the individual state qualifiers.

In the girls meet, Redwood Valley was again the team champion. Area teams included Luverne in second (qualifying for state), JCC in sixth, Adrian-Ellsworth in ninth, MCC-Fulda in 11^th and Windom Area in 13th.

Among the other top finishers were: Luverne's Khloe Visker and Summer Mollberg, fifth and sixth (which qualified them for state); JCC's Naiya Ayers, ninth (which qualified her for state); Luverne's Tyleigh Hood, 11th, and Sophia Nolz, 17th; Windom Area's Ada Bordewyk, 18th; JCC's Ester Botello Ramos, 24th; Luverne's Emary Zwaan, 25th, and Harper DeWispelaere, 26th; and Adrian-Ellsworth's Keyona Klingenberg, 29th.  

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Senior Asrat Bonnett was the highest placer for the Worthington Trojans at Thursday's Section 2AA boys cross country meet in Benson Park, placing 30^th with a time of 18:21.5.

Evan Meyer, a WHS freshman, crossed the finish line next for the Trojans, as he came in 41st. Sophomore Braddock Marquardt finished in 48^th place; senior Ryan Phelps was next for Worthington in 65th.

The Trojans compiled a team total of 251 points in placing 10^th as a team. Mankato East was first with 18 points.

In the girls meet, seventh-grader Sawyer Reese was first across the line for Worthington with a time of 23:55.7 that put her in 54^th place. Senior Emily Dahlquist was a second behind her in 55th. Placing, in order, in 60^th through 62^nd place were freshman Annika Kinser, eighth-grader Grace Larson and freshman Carina Lopez.

The Trojans were ninth as a team with 279 points. Marshall captured first with 39.

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Among Saturday's high school sectional football games involving area team. 7-2 Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda will play at unbeaten top-ranked and defending state champion Hills-Beaver Creek at 3 p.m. in Section 3 9-Man semifinal action.

In Section 3AA, No. 1 Jackson County Central, which is 8-1 and also a defending state champ, will entertain 4-5 Pipestone Area on Saturday afternoon. That contest is also slated for 3 p.m.