DULUTH, Minn (KWAD) – The fall colors at Enger Park in Duluth provided the perfect setting for the annual Swain Invitational, one of Minnesota’s most tradition-rich cross country meets. For two area programs—Wadena-Deer Creek and United North Central—it was a day of major strides, standout performances, and continued proof that both programs are building toward something special.

The Wadena-Deer Creek boys put together one of their most complete performances of the season, winning the Class A team title with a mere 56 points, pulling away from Greenway (69) and North Shore (98). The Wolverines, after finishing runner-up in four meets this season, placed five runners inside the top 25—remarkable depth on one of the toughest courses in the state to win their first meet of the season. Senior Grant Nelson once again led the charge, running with poise and confidence to win the individual title in 17:30.6, edging Greenway’s Brayden Nielsen by less than a second in a thrilling finish. The victory marked another highlight in Nelson’s stellar senior campaign, and it set the tone for what became a statement day for WDC. The win was Nelson’s first since his sophomore season.

Behind Nelson, Owen Anderson (11th, 18:17.0) and Lane Kaufman (17th, 18:45.6) ran side-by-side through much of the course, holding off charging packs from Greenway and North Shore. Seniors Evan Schmidt (20th, 18:59.5) and Noah Stroeing (24th, 19:04.9) rounded out the scoring five, giving the Wolverines a total team time of 1:32:37 and a razor-tight 1:34 spread. James Seelhammer (25th, 19:14.2) and Brennan Simmons (43rd, 20:06.1) also finished strong to cap off the Wolverines’ top-seven sweep under 21 minutes—a sign of both balance and depth heading into the postseason.

The Wadena-Deer Creek girls also had reason to celebrate, finishing 6th overall with 118 points in a loaded Class A field that featured state-ranked programs like Trinity/Unity and Lake City.

Karly Haverkamp led the way with a 9th-place finish in 21:23.5, continuing her streak of top-10 showings this fall. Her early pace kept her in contention with the leaders through the two-mile mark, and she held on strong down the final hill to secure valuable low points for the team.

Right behind her, Lydia Oldakowski (26th, 22:53.0) and Cambrie Geiger (28th, 23:03.7) gave the Wolverines a solid middle-pack presence. Annika Spicer (39th, 24:06.8) and Katelyn Reinke (53rd, 25:09.3) rounded out the scoring five, giving WDC a total team time of 1:56:36 and an average of 23:19. Danya Spicer (60th, 25:48.6) provided key support as the team’s sixth runner. The Wolverines’ depth and balance helped them edge several larger schools, finishing just two points behind Ely (116) and within striking distance of fourth-place United North Central (99).

The United North Central (UNC) girls, led by Macie Josephson and Anaya Aho, claimed fourth place overall with 99 points—ahead of Ely, Wadena-Deer Creek, and several strong Iron Range programs. The Warriors showed exceptional pack discipline, finishing all five scorers within just over two minutes of one another.

Josephson led the team with a 15th-place finish in 21:59.3, followed immediately by Aho (16th, 21:59.4). The pair crossed the line nearly in sync, pushing each other every step of the way.

Behind them, Eva Lehto (25th, 22:52.8), Elsa Komppa (36th, 23:59.8), and Miley Westberg (38th, 24:03.3) closed the scoring. Joanna Lehto (40th, 24:07.8) and Erika Keranen (62nd, 25:55.3) provided key displacement support as the sixth and seventh runners.

While United North Central did not field a full boys team score, their top runners gained valuable experience on the Swain course. Gavin Schreiber (80th, 22:11.0) led the group, followed closely by Rohan Kuschel (85th, 22:22.8), Keegan Josephson (86th, 22:24.0), and Nolan Heltunen (87th, 22:27.7)—all finishing within 17 seconds of each other.