SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KWAD) – The Perham Cross Country program made its mark once again on the regional stage Sunday afternoon, turning in standout performances at the freezing Nike Cross Regionals (NXR) Heartland Championships. Temps at race time were in the low 20s with feels-like temps in the single digits, and snow blanketing the course. Perham’s legacy of excellence continued as the Perham boys finished 12th in the 5K Championship Race, and the girls placing 16th in one of the most competitive postseason meets in the Midwest.

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On the boys’ side, the Perham XC Club once again showed why it remains one of the premier distance programs in the state, with the team’s top five combined for a total time of 1:23:39 and a team average of 16:43, finishing within 45 seconds of one another in a deep and talented championship field. Matt Jorgenson led the charge with a strong 16:19.7, followed by Brody Freeland (16:23.6) and Bryce Brown (16:48.9), all crossing under 17 minutes. Reid Wokasch (17:02.4) and Henry Mathiason (17:05.1) rounded out the scoring five with clutch efforts to secure another high regional finish for the program. Sophomore Dylan Guck (17:18.6) and Ethan Johnson (17:23.0) provided strong depth, completing the seven-man lineup with consistent pacing and grit down the stretch.

On the girls side, the team’s top five runners finished within just 46 seconds of each other, combining for a team time of 1:37:55 and an impressive average of 19:35 per runner. Leading the charge was Gracie Morris, who clocked 19:16.1. Close behind, Tilly Mathies (19:23.5) and Caidyn Breid (19:33.9) packed tightly in the top half of the race, while Chayla Sweere (19:39.3) and Adeline Werner (20:02.4) rounded out the scoring five. Depth was once again a strength for Perham, with Rory Kaldor (20:06.8) and Julianna Scraper (20:41.6) providing valuable insurance as the sixth and seventh runners.

Runners from Detroit Lakes Also Compete

The Detroit Lakes Laker Track Club turned in a strong showing in the Boys Session 2 5K, finishing with 19th overall in the race with a top-five total time of 1:38:42 and an average of 19:44 per runner. Garrett Moen led the way for Detroit Lakes with a time of 18:38.6, followed by Andrew Barberg (18:44.5) and Emmett Stuewe (19:07.4), who helped the Lakers stay competitive in a tight team race. Ethan Stuewe (19:53.9) and Levi Hoggarth (22:18.2) rounded out the scoring five, while Zander Isakson (24:32.3) contributed valuable depth as the team’s sixth runner.

Connor Malecka ran unattached in the Boys Championship 5K, clocking a 16:18.5 in the Boys Championship 5K, good for 62nd place.

Senior runners Hannah Barberg and Natalie Mohr both turned in strong efforts in the Girls Open Invitational Section 2 race. Both running unattached, Barberg led the duo with a time of 20:36.9, placing 43rd overall in the section. Mohr clocked a solid 22:01.2, opening with a 7:00.3 first mile, hitting 14:15.8 at two miles, and closing with a 7:45 final mile to finish off her 5K.

FULL RESULTS HERE

NXR Heartland Regional Championships • November 9, 2025