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Cross-Country: One more big race for Willmar Cardinal trio

michael lyne, west central tribune, willmar, minn.
·5 min read

Nov. 3—FALCON HEIGHTS — Although the

Willmar boys and girls cross-country teams

are not heading to the state meet, the Cardinals have advanced three strong runners who will compete as individuals in the Class AA race.

On the boys' side, there are junior Sully Anez and senior Fathi Dubet. On the girls' side, there is junior Lauren Eilers.

The three will give it their best at the Class AA meet on Saturday. Anez and Dubet run at 2 p.m. and Eilers competes at 2:45 p.m at Les Bolstad Golf Course. The state meets were previously held at St. Olaf College in Northfield.

"It's going to be an exciting race, especially with the new course," Willmar head coach Connor Haugen said. "It's going to be a different environment and I am very excited to see what that looks like."

Lee Bolstad Golf Course's hilly makeup will present its challenges to state runners.

Haugen knows how important Friday's walk-through and preview of the course will be for his three state competitors in helping them get a grasp and a familiarity with the route.

"It's one of the toughest courses out there," Haugen said. "The toughest kid will win the day, and truly, between Sully, Fathi and Lauren — these are some of the toughest kids I've ever met, so I know they're going to perform very well."

What makes Lee Bolstad Golf Course challenging?

"Constant rolling hills. It's very similar to our Willmar course (at Eagle Creek Golf Club)," Haugen said. "You can never get into a rhythm and you can't ever feel comfortable. ... You're just constantly moving and changing gears and going up and down hills — That can gas you pretty easy."

Anez, who finished in third place in the state meet in 2022, has the third fastest time among Class AA runners this season at 15 minutes, 23.4 seconds. Only Perham's Bjorn Anderson (15:10.7) and Pequot Lakes' Eli Hall (15:19.7) have faster times. Also in the mix for a state title will be Big Lake's Jack Leuer, Worthington's Fanuel Wolday and Annandale's Sal Wirth.

"It's a great opportunity to be one of the best in the state and have a chance at a state title,'

Anez said following his second-place finish in the Section 8AA championship on Oct. 26

. "I'm pretty excited about that."

"We've never had an individual cross-country boy state champion (at Willmar) and it is very tough to do that, especially with the stiff competition that he has," Haugen added. "Some of those guys are just running out of their minds and I just hope Sully runs a little bit more out of his mind.

"It's going to come down to the wire."

Eilers,

who is coming off her lifetime personal record en route to her first Section 8AA title

, has the sixth fastest time among Class AA runners this fall at 18:21.35.

There are two girls whose fastest times are under 18 minutes in the state for Class AA. That is Monticello's Isabel Mahoney at 17:44.7 and Hutchinson's Isabelle Schmitz at 17:58.5.

Eilers has been trending upward as the years have passed. She finished 22nd in 2019, 11 in 2021 and eighth in 2022.

She is on the cusp off another top-10 finish with the possibility of cracking into the top five for the first time in her career.

"A top-10 (finish) is very doable (for Lauren) and even top three would be a realistic goal based off of head-to-head competition and how she's performed against some of the girls vying for those spots in the past," Haugen said. "Lauren has raced so smart in so many races this year.

"She has really grown as a person that can take over a race at anytime. She's somebody who knows her strengths and knows how to maximize them."

Dubet, who placed 72nd in the Class AA meet just a season ago, has made tremendous strides within the calendar year. The fastest run of his career,

which came in the Section 8AA championships

, ranks No. 19 in the state for Class AA at 16:13.4.

He hopes to finish his high school career with a finishing time under the 16-minute mark. It would be the first time in his career that he would accomplish that feat.

"Who knows where he can end up, but a top 20 finish is very realistic," Haugen said. "We'll see what happens."

All in all, it is safe to say Haugen and company are looking forward to Saturday's competition.

"I'm excited to end the season on a high note with some high individual placings," Haugen said. "That's what we're hoping for."

Between the Class A boys and girls' races, there are six more area athletes who will compete for a state title.

On the boys' side, Lac qui Parle Valley/Dawson-Boyd junior Gavin Carl and Minnewaska senior Maeson Tank will both compete at noon.

On the girls' side, there is a lot of youthfulness at 12:45 p.m. Competing will be Litchfield eighth-grader Elsa Helstrom, Lac qui Parle Valley/Dawson-Boyd freshman Chloe Gloege, Minnewaska sophomore Lauryn Ankeny and Paynesville junior Madison Wendlandt.

1. Bjorn Anderson, Perham, 15:10.7

2. Eli Hall, Pequot Lakes, 15:19.7

3. Sully Anez, Willmar, 15:23.4

4. Jack Leuer, Big Lake, 15:26.5

5. Fanuel Wolday, Worthington, 15:29.0

6. Sal Wirth, Annandale, 15:29.2

7. Owen Layton, Big Lake, 15:33.2

8. David Obst, Kasson-Mantorville, 15:37.1

9. Isaiah Anderson, Mankato East, 15:46.1

10. Soren Bortnem, Dassel-Cokato, 15:46.5

1. Isabel Mahoney, Monticello, 17:44.7

2. Isabelle Schmitz, Hutchinson, 17:58.5

3. Allyson Sample, Marshall, 18:12.1

4. Grace Lewis-Mosher, St. Paul Highland Park, 18:15.4

5. Annika Hall, Chisago Lakes, 18:19.2

6. Lauren Eilers, Willmar, 18:21.35

7. Citori Halbe, Alexandria, 18:22.9

8. Kaia Osmundson, Chisago Lakes, 18:24.8

9. Cassie Wellman, Fergus Falls, 18:39.7

10. Keira Friedrich, St. Peter, 18:40.6