Demons, Toppers shine at local meet
By Mike Ramczyk
Sports Editor
The venue may have changed, but the Burlington cross country teams felt right at home at their Chocolate City Invite Saturday.
Competing in morning weather that resembled Christmas time much more than the beginning of fall, both the boys and girls squads raced to their best times of the season.
The annual event, which usually takes place at the St. Francis Monestary, was moved to Burlington High School because corn was planted at St. Francis this year.
That didn’t stop the Demons from treating their home turf like the advantage it should be.
The girls finished seventh with 194 points, just eight behind sixth-place Waukesha South. Divine Savior Holy Angels won the event with 53.
Ashlyn Barry led the way with a time of 19:21, good for fifth overall. Brittany Ehlen took ninth with a 19:45.
“The solid pack of Jessa Burling, Miranda Reed and Molly Benavides all ran season-best times,” said coach Rick Koceja.
On the boys side, the Demons took 11th in the 16-team invite. Shorewood took first place.
Nathaniel Sibley blazed the trails for a season-best 16:47, which put him in eighth place overall.
Catholic Central’s Sam Joski finished 14th with a 17:05.
The Topper boys took ninth overall as a team.
As for Burlington, Ben Lois, Dakota Taylor, Ethan Willis and Declan Kipp all complemented Sibley with season-best times.
“In a very competitive field, both teams had their best times of the season,” Koceja said. “The coaching staff was very impressed with the effort given by all runners and appreciates the support given by our loyal fans and administration. It was a great environment for high school cross country on a chilly, windy day.”
Spectators bundled up in winter attire and followed the runners, who passed the school’s parking lot area during the run and extended behind the tennis courts to the football practice fields.
The finish line was located roughly 30 feet behind the tennis courts, and a sea of at least 100 fans lined up to loudly cheer on their runners.
More Topper times
Catholic Central’s Gavin Clayton took 38th overall with a time of 17:49.
Also, Jake LaForest was 66th with an 18:43. Gavin Foote was 74th with a 19:04.
For the girls, Kourtney Mulhollon paced the bunch with a 21:16.
Kathleen Straube (21:40), Cassie Reesman (21:53), Kelly Aldrich (22:09) and Alexis Reesman (22:23) rounded out the pack.
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