PINE RIVER, Minn (KWAD) – Staples–Motley owned the day, capturing both team titles behind depth and a steady pack at the Pine River-Backus Invitational on Thursday evening, while Pillager rode a powerful 1–2 punch to second in the girls’ race and placed fifth in the boys.

Staples–Motley stacked five scorers inside the top 16 to post 48 points and the team crown: Aleea Holst led the Cardinals in 6th (22:18.3), with Suhaila Mikhaeil 9th (22:42.5) and Elise Trif 11th (23:00.6) close behind. Seventh-grader Lizzie Kroll added 14th (23:58.3) and fellow seventh-grader Alexis Odden sealed it in 15th (24:21.3).

Pillager finished second (58) and put two athletes on the overall podium: Alainna Dobson blazed to 3rd (21:45.0) and Bellanie Kalis followed in 4th (21:51.2). The Huskies’ scoring five were completed by Violette Metz 18th (26:25.2), Rylie Eustice 22nd (27:15.2) and Isabella Brinkman 23rd (28:01.3), with Carissa Kerschner and Elizabeth Holle providing depth.

The Cardinals boys edged Pine River-Backus by a single point, 53–54, thanks to three finishers in the top 10 and timely late scoring. Andrew Dobson paced Staples–Motley in 6th (18:48.6), followed by Gage Bjerga 7th (19:06.6) and Garrett Bjerga 10th (19:43.5). Freshman Jackson Odden’s 20th (21:41.8) and Seth Cossentine’s 25th (22:20.5) closed the door, with Alex Leach right there in 26th (22:21.3) for insurance. Pillager claimed fifth (115), highlighted by a tight 1–5 pack over just 3:08: Nicholas Barg led the Huskies in 21st (21:47.6), with Gabe Stephens 23rd (22:00.5). Parker Pallansch was 29th (22:50.6), Camden Balk 37th (24:36.2) and Jordan Brinkman 39th (24:55.6) rounded out the scorers.

Girls Varsity – Team Results