By David Paulsen
Correspondent
All season, it seems like the Waterford High School cross country teams have been so close to finishing near the top of meets they have competed in.
At the Mukwonago Invite Sept. 29, it was more of the same.
The Wolverine boys placed third overall, while the girls finished fourth on a day featuring a wind advisory and rain. Winds were gusting 35-45 mph and the rain at times came down sideways. That meant trying to set personal records was not a goal for that meet.
The boys’ team tallied 79 points, which was just four points behind second-place Wisconsin Lutheran.
“We’re near the top,” said head coach Nate Schreiber. “We’re very close to putting it all together.”
Grant Brooks, Mitch Singer, Kurt Sustachek and Kody Brand all finished within 12 seconds of each other, placing eighth, 12th, 16th and 17th respectively, with times ranging from 17 minutes 18 seconds for Brooks to 17:30 for Brand.
Brandon Bergersen was another 18 seconds back in 17:48, which was good enough for 26th place.
“We need to get that fifth guy up there with (the first four),” Schreiber said, noting that if that would have happened the Wolverines could have finished in second.
Kettle Moraine won the boys’ event with 50 points.
The girls’ team tallied 108 points with Oconomowoc easily winning the girls’ event with just 27 points. Waukesha South had 90 and Mukwonago 97.
The girls’ race was longer than normal. Normally, the girls run a 4K while the guys run a 5K, but on this day the girls also ran a 5K.
Rhea Fiorita finished fourth overall in a time of 20:35.
“I thought Rhea was outstanding,” Schreiber said.
Schreiber noted that Fiorita’s normal pattern of racing is to run the first half of the race in a controlled manner and then dominate the second half of the race.
“She did that again,” Schreiber said.
Dawn Brintnall was clocked in 21:21 (16th), Hannah Jost in 21:31 (22nd), and Kayla Butscher in 21:43 (26th).
Waterford’s fifth-best runner was Valerie Knurr in 22:11 (40th).
“We were close top putting all the kids up there, but not quite,” Schreiber said.
The Wolverine girls competed in this event without Makenna Reed. Reed, who has been the No. 2 or No. 3 runner in recent meets, was ill.
Waterford hosted its own invite on Thursday featuring some very tough teams who will be in its sectional.
“This is a big one for us,” Schreiber said.
That meet will be the team’s last competition prior to the SLC Meet on Saturday, Oct. 15, at UW-Parkside.
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