STAPLES, MINN (KWAD) — The Vintage Golf Club in Staples played host to Central Minnesota River Run on Monday, a 15-team showdown that showcased five State Meet teams from last season in a great way for a number of area programs to kick-off their 2025 season.

In the girls varsity race, defending state champion Audrey Brownell of Staples-Motley started her senior campaign with a victory, cruising to a win in her final high school race in Staples, crossing the finish line in 18 minutes, 31.1 seconds, more than half a minute clear of her closest competitor.

Behind her, Fergus Falls junior Cassie Wellman took second in 19:03.4, while Bertha-Hewitt junior Kendra Miller claimed third in 19:43.4. Fergus Falls freshman Carsyn Lill showed poise beyond her years, racing to fourth in 20:23.7, just ahead of Lucie Comstock of Breckenridge/Wahpeton, who finished fifth in 20:24.5.

The top 10 also featured Kiera Wiertzema of Breckenridge/Wahpeton (6th, 20:32.4), Katelyn Warner of Long Prairie-Grey Eagle (7th, 20:36.3), Greta Galzki of Park Rapids Area (8th, 21:18.1), Gracie Falck of Breckenridge/Wahpeton (9th, 21:52.2), and Bertha-Hewitt senior Miette Hansel (10th, 21:56.4).

Defending 6A champion Minnewaska Area used a tight pack — scoring runners in 8th, 10th, 13th, 14th and 20th — to secure the team title with 65 points.

The battle for second was razor-thin. Breckenridge/Wahpeton and Fergus Falls each finished with 70 points, but Breckenridge/Wahpeton earned the runner-up spot on a tiebreaker with Addie King’s 36th finish as the Cowboys’ sixth runner in. Park Rapids Area wasn’t far behind either, taking fourth with 93 points.

On the boys side, senior Brady Rach of Bertha-Hewitt put on a commanding performance to capture the boys’ cross country title finishing with a time of 16 minutes, 25.3 seconds, nearly 40 seconds ahead of the field. West Central Area’s Carter Kjesbo, also a senior, took runner-up honors in 17:03.5, while Park Rapids Area sophomore Jack Mitteness claimed third in 17:30.8. Fergus Falls had two runners in the top five, with junior Samuel Rasmussen (4th, 17:37.2) and senior Micah Mouser (5th, 17:49.3) keeping the Otters near the front of the pack.

Bertha-Hewitt also added depth to the leaderboard as senior Henry Lockwood clocked 18:00.1 to place sixth, while Fergus Falls junior Brody Nelson followed in seventh at 18:01.9. Park Rapids Area rounded out its strong day with sophomores Cesar Quixan Gutierrez (8th, 18:11.0) and junior Tyler Huot (9th, 18:16.6). Crosby-Ironton freshman Peter Bartels broke into the top 10 with a time of 18:19.4.

The Park Rapids Area Panthers secured the team championship with a deep and balanced performance. The Panthers placed five runners in the top 12 — Mitteness (3rd), Cesar Quixan Gutierrez (8th), Tyler Huot (9th), plus additional scorers in 10th and 12th — to finish with just 37 points.

Fergus Falls was close behind in second place, tallying 43 points thanks to the strong pack of Rasmussen (4th), Mouser (5th), and Nelson (7th).

West Central Area, led by Kjesbo’s second-place run, took third with 81 points, while Melrose Area finished fourth at 126. Staples-Motley rounded out the top five with 134 points, placing runners inside the top 15 (sophomores Gage Bjerga, Andrew Dobson).

UPCOMING MEETS:

Thu, Aug 28

• 4:00 PM – Bois de Sioux (Breckenridge)

Tue, Sep 2

• 4:00 PM – Whitetail Run GC (Wadena-Deer Creek)

Thu, Sep 4

• 4:00 PM – Willow Creek GC (Barnesville)
• 4:00 PM – Lakeview Golf Course (Detroit Lakes)

Fri, Sep 5

• 4:00 PM – Dragon Invite @ MSU-Moorhead

Girls Varsity – Top 20

1. Audrey Brownell, Staples-Motley — 18:31.1

2. Cassie Wellman, Fergus Falls — 19:03.4

3. Kendra Miller, Bertha-Hewitt — 19:43.4

4. Carsyn Lill, Fergus Falls — 20:23.7

5. Lucie Comstock, Breck/Wahp — 20:24.5

6. Kiera Wiertzema, Breck/Wahp — 20:32.4

7. Katelyn Warner, LPGE — 20:36.3

8. Greta Galzki, Park Rapids — 21:18.1

9. Gracie Falck, Breck/Wahp — 21:52.2

10. Miette Hansel, Bertha-Hewitt — 21:56.4

11. Maia Larson, Minnewaska — 22:14.9

12. Madeline Brandt, Park Rapids — 22:17.4

13. Jillian Deutsch, Minnewaska — 22:18.8

14. Lydia Ugeruud, Fergus Falls — 22:30.9

15. Katelynn Henderson, Park Rapids — 22:31.8

16. Lauryn Ankeny, Minnewaska — 22:35.1

17. Ella Larson, Minnewaska — 22:36.4

18. Lauren Thoennes, A-B-E — 22:38.0

19. Courtney Paulson, A-B-E — 22:39.2

20. Elise Trif, Staples-Motley — 22:45.9

Team Scores

1. Minnewaska Area 65

2. Breck/Wahp 70*

3. Fergus Falls 70

4. Park Rapids Area 93

5. West Central Area 137

6. Crosby-Ironton 147

7. A-B-E 163

8. Osakis 194

9. LPGE 217

*Breck/Wahp wins tiebreaker on sixth runner

Boys Varsity – Top 20

1. Brady Rach, Bertha-Hewitt — 16:25.3

2. Carter Kjesbo, West Central — 17:03.5

3. Jack Mitteness, Park Rapids — 17:30.8

4. Samuel Rasmussen, Fergus Falls — 17:37.2

5. Micah Mouser, Fergus Falls — 17:49.3

6. Henry Lockwood, Bertha-Hewitt — 18:00.1

7. Brody Nelson, Fergus Falls — 18:01.9

8. Cesar Quixan Gutierrez, Park Rapids — 18:11.0

9. Tyler Huot, Park Rapids — 18:16.6

10. Peter Bartels, Crosby-Ironton — 18:19.4

11. Justin Reisz, Crosby-Ironton — 18:24.6

12. Troy Berndt, Breck/Wahp — 18:27.2

13. Chase Johanson, Osakis — 18:29.3

14. Michael Girard, West Central — 18:37.9

15. Parker Larson, Park Rapids — 18:44.6

16. Gage Bjerga, Staples-Motley — 18:56.2

17. Dietrich Reidenbach, Minnewaska — 19:02.3

18. Christian Thorson, Park Rapids — 19:11.9

19. Andrew Dobson, Staples-Motley — 19:22.8

20. Brayden Haugen, Fergus Falls — 19:29.8

Team Scores

1. Park Rapids Area 37

2. Fergus Falls 43

3. West Central Area 81

4. Melrose Area 126

5. Staples-Motley 134

6. Breck/Wahp 143

7. A-B-E 212

8. LPGE 214

9. New York Mills 254

10. Verndale 271

FIND FULL MEET RESULTS HERE