The Waseca Bluejays cross country teams faced some of the state’s top competition Thursday, September 11, at the Mayo Cross Country Invite held at Eastwood Golf Course. More than 18 schools competed on a cool, cloudy day with near-perfect racing conditions.
The Waseca girls turned in a strong performance, placing 8th overall out of 16 teams in a race of 114 runners. Their finish came behind several schools larger than Waseca, including Winona, Stillwater Area, Owatonna, White Bear Lake, and Rochester John Marshall. Sophomore Stella Omtvedt led the Bluejays with a 28th-place finish in 21:20.5, followed by Maren Schimming (37th, 21:47.6), Ellie Kopischke (59th, 22:56.2), Quinn Yoder (59th, 22:56.2), Ava VanDenHemel (63rd, 23:00.9), Taylor Markeson (66th, 23:13.5), and Jenna Yoder (68th, 23:22.7). The team’s depth through the middle of the lineup helped secure the top-10 finish against a competitive field.
On the boys’ side, Waseca competed in a field of 124 runners. Keenan Collins led the Bluejays with a 95th-place finish in 20:17.7, followed closely by Wyatt Hager (99th, 20:30.3) and Luke Feldkamp (107th, 21:08.4). The boys did not field a complete team score, as fewer than five varsity runners competed. With a roster primarily composed of 7th- and 8th-grade athletes, the program is gradually building depth and preparing younger runners to compete at the 5K distance. Coaches expect the team to gain both numbers and strength as the season progresses.
The Mayo Invite served as both a midseason measuring stick and a confidence booster for Waseca. With the girls cracking the top 10 and the boys showing promise for the future, the Bluejays leave Eastwood with momentum and valuable experience heading into upcoming meets.
The next race for Waseca will be Tuesday, September 16, at 4:00 p.m. in Albert Lea at Bancroft Bay Park. This meet will be an important test, as it takes place on the Section 1AA Championship course and will provide the team with a key preview of the championship race conditions.