ALEXANDRIA, Minn (KWAD) – The 52nd Annual Lions Meet of Champions Cross Country Invitational at Arrowwood Resort in Alexandria brought together some of the region’s best high school runners Saturday afternoon, and the competition did not disappoint. From powerhouse teams like Sioux Falls Washington and Mounds View to Class AA contenders Perham and Alexandria, the hilly Alexandria course served as a measuring stick for state-bound squads as teams enter the final month of the Cross-Country season.

On the girls’ side, Staples-Motley senior Audrey Brownell continued her remarkable season with a dominant victory, crossing the finish line in 18:31.9 — nearly 30 seconds ahead of her nearest competitor. The win marked another statement race for Brownell, who remains one of the top individual contenders in Class A heading into October. Elise Trif (92, 22:45.3) and Aleea Holst 103, (23:37.7) were the next Cardinals across the line, followed by Suhaila Mikhaeil (121, 25:01.2), Elizabeth Kroll (126, 25:27.4), and Alexis Odden (137, 26:44.2) as the Cards finished in 18th place.

The Perham girls continued their tradition of excellence, taking home the team championship with a commanding 64 points, comfortably ahead of Mounds View (120) and Chaska (121). Caidyn Breid led the Yellowjackets with a seventh-place overall finish in 19:49.9, followed closely by Julianna Scraper (11th, 19:54.9), Gracie Morris (13th, 20:04.8), Chayla Sweere (15th, 20:05.8), and Rory Kaldor (17th, 20:07.3). Perham’s 18-second spread between their top five scorers underscored the program’s remarkable depth. With Tilly Mathies (32nd, 20:28.1) and Adeline Werner (36th, 20:34.7) providing additional support, the Yellowjackets’ depth and pack running remain among the best in the state

The Alexandria girls put together one of their most complete races of the season, finishing fifth overall with 137 points — and impressively, just 17 points shy of a top-three finish. Quinn Hills led the Cardinals with a 7th-place finish in 19:49.4, followed by a remarkably tight pack of scorers: Emma Bassen (23rd, 20:16.7), Avery Warzecha (33rd, 20:28.3), Isabella Nei (35th, 20:32.3), and Citori Halbe (39th, 20:43.1). Their top five finished within 53 seconds of one another

The Perham boys showed once again why they remain among Minnesota’s top cross-country programs, finishing third overall with a team total of 112 points — trailing only Sioux Falls Washington (89) and Mounds View (94) in the 30-team field. Sophomore Bryce Brown led the Yellowjackets with an impressive 16:39.2, good for eighth place overall. Teammates Brody Freeland (15th, 16:46.6) and Matt Jorgenson (23rd, 17:03.8) packed in tightly behind, giving Perham one of the best 1-2-3 punches of the meet. Henry Mathiason (29th, 17:15.5) and Reid Wokasch (37th, 17:30.6) rounded out the scoring five, while Ethan Johnson (47th, 17:46.4) and Dylan Guck (48th, 17:47.2) provided critical depth. The third-place finish showcased Perham’s balance and consistency across their top seven. Despite competing against larger schools, the Yellowjackets placed all five scorers inside the top 40 — a clear indicator of state-meet potential as the championship season approaches.

The Alexandria Cardinals claimed a top-10 team finish, taking ninth overall with a score of 244 points. Their strength came from a tightly packed scoring group. Jakin Miller led the way for the Cardinals, clocking 17:28.9 for 35th place, while Tyler Jahner (41st, 17:34.4), Matty Soderholm (55th, 17:56.4), Cohen Lussenden (56th, 17:59.9), and Carson Bumgarner (57th, 18:01.7) all finished within 33 seconds of each other. That kind of pack running — with all five scorers in the top 60 — bodes well as Alexandria gears up for the Central Lakes Conference and Section 8AA championships in the coming weeks. With continued improvement from their back end, the Cardinals look poised for another state-meet appearance.

For the Staples-Motley Cardinals, the meet offered a valuable learning opportunity in a deep and fast field. The young Cardinals finished 22nd with 579 points, led by Gage Bjerga, who placed 76th overall in 18:24.6. Behind him, Andrew Dobson (112th, 19:20.1) and Garrett Bjerga (118th, 19:38.7) provided steady mid-pack finishes, while Gabriel Kroll (135th, 20:14.5) and Seth Cossentine (137th, 20:24.5) rounded out the scoring.
Though still developing their depth, Staples-Motley’s presence at one of the state’s premier invitationals provided valuable experience heading into Section 6A competition later this month.

Alexandria Lion’s Meet of Champions Results

FULL MEET RESULTS HERE