Cold rain and slick ground didn’t slow down the Hastings Raiders on Saturday, as both the girls’ and boys’ cross-country teams delivered determined performances at the Metro East Conference Championship on October 14.
In a tight team race, the Hastings girls claimed the conference title, edging out Two Rivers 51 to 57. It was a gritty, top-to-bottom team effort that brought the trophy home on a raw and drizzly day at St. Croix Bluffs.
Senior Linnea Ronning led the way, clocking in at 19:06.0 for second place overall. Steady and seasoned, Ronning has anchored the Raiders all season, and her experience showed on a day when footing was unpredictable, and temperatures hovered near miserable.
Behind her, a breakout performance from freshman Clara Hochmuth helped solidify the team score. Hochmuth crossed the line in 20:17.5, good for sixth place and a personal record. Seniors Lucy Burmeister (8th, 21:03.0) and Emily Beaudet (17th, 22:17.9), along with junior Katherine Nowak (18th, 22:23.1), rounded out the top five for Hastings. All three ran with heart, and Nowak’s personal-best time added extra cushion against Two Rivers in the final tally.
Every place mattered. Olivia Schuster (23rd, 23:06.9) and Mattea Quigley (29th, 23:28.4) also ran personal bests, and their presence in the mix helped push back scoring runners from Hill-Murray and Mahtomedi.
The Raiders weren’t the only team to post standout times, but they were the most complete. While Simley’s Annaleigh Schwab won the individual title in 18:42.6, Hastings placed five runners in the top 18, while Two Rivers managed just four.
On the boys’ side, the Raiders took second place in the team standings behind a dominant Two Rivers squad, who placed five runners in the top eight and scored just 20 points, the cross-country equivalent of a landslide.
Still, Hastings battled. Senior Parker Stoltz led the team with a 7th-place finish in 16:37.5, holding his own in a blistering front group. Right behind him came senior Aiden Reuter (9th, 16:58.1), also hitting a personal best. William Carry (11th, 17:07.9), David Tireman (12th, 17:07.9), and Tristan Herbst (15th, 17:19.1) formed a tight group that kept the Raiders in solid standing.
Sophomore Benjamin Schwanke added a key sixth-runner time of 18:11.0, a personal best, and James Jensen rounded out the varsity seven with an 18:42.8, another PR.
Head Coach Joe Rabaey could barely contain his excitement regarding the performance of his athletes.
“The boys ran awesome to take second to a really talented Two Rivers squad (one of the top teams in the state), and the girls did literally exactly what they needed to do to take home the team title (our first since joining the MEC). We knew we had a shot, but it would take big improvements from everyone, and they all did it! I couldn't be more proud of the whole team, and they earned the success!!”
While Two Rivers set the pace this time around, Hastings’ boys showed depth and fight. With five runners under 17:20, the squad looks poised to make noise in the upcoming section meet.
Conditions were rough, but the grit was real. Rain pelted the course from the start, soaking spikes and weighing down uniforms, but the Raiders ran through it all. For the girls, it ended with hardware. For the boys, it ended with a reminder that they’re in the hunt and not far off the pace.
“Last Tuesday was just an awesome meet, and one of my favorites to watch in my time coaching. It was one of those days where everyone ran well. Nearly everyone had a season best time, with most having a lifetime best time, and some beating their previous best by nearly 2 minutes! We have been aiming for this all season, but it just speaks to the focus and perseverance of the kids that they were able to keep working hard every day, despite some hard courses and slower times through the middle of the season,” added Rabaey.
With conference meet behind them, the focus now shifts to sections. If Saturday was any indication, the Raiders will be ready, rain or shine. Their next challenge comes on Oct. 23 at Valleywood Golf Course in Apple Valley for the Section 3AAA Championships. The girls race starts at 11:30 a.m. with the boys following at 12:15 p.m. and awards around 12:50. With just nine days between the conference meet and section meet, it is difficult to do some of the physical things needed to improve times, like build muscle or endurance. But Coach Rabaey and the Raiders are ready.
“We had big goals for the section meet this whole year. To hit those, the runners know it's going to take another big leap. Our focus has just been on still trying to get better each day, and at this point in the season that means rest, recovery, and gearing up for one more big race. We are excited to get after it on Thursday!”
One thing is clear, Thursday is going to be an exciting day and the Raiders are ready. The top two teams and the fastest six runners not on the top two teams advance to state on November 1 at the Les Bolstad Golf Course at the U of M.