September 19, 2022 at 11:09 a.m.
Hodags finish near back of Smiley pack
Hodags finish near back of Smiley pack
Rhinelander was 19th of 20 overall in Division 1 in both the boys' and girls' races, and ninth out of 10 teams in the D1 Small subcategory.
"You learn a lot about the heat and the elements," coach M.J. Laggis said of an unusually warm mid-September day with the temperature reaching the lower 80s. "Anyone that's ever run a marathon or a lot of distance knows that your body gets to a certain point, a certain workload under certain temperature and you find out what you're made of. Today was one of those days where you're really working hard in a three-mile race and you're giving it and you find out what you can do. Kids found that limit today."
Cody Ruetz paced the Hodag boys' taking 18th in D1 small and 49th overall in Division 1. He completed the 5-kilometer course around the Wausau East High School campus in 18 minutes, 45.8 seconds. Sophomore teammate Greyson Gremban was not far behind. He finished 22nd among D1 small runners at 18:56.4.
"Cody Ruetz really took control and ran really well," Laggis noted. "Then Greyson gets right on his heels. Those guys are a great 1-2 punch. They really are. Now we've got to get a 3, 4 and 5 to score."
Olin Slette (51st, 20:13.7), Gavin Denis (52nd, 20:18.7) and Brody Kowieski (58th, 21:07.2) were the Hodags third, fourth and fifth runners during the race. Payton McCue (69th, 24:36.3) was the only other runner to finish. Shawn Denis missed the race due to injury and Bryan Glover dropped out with a lower body injury sustained near the halfway point of the race.
"Gavin Denis, he's right there. Olin has improved so much for a freshman and today I thought Brody Kowieski had a stronger race," Laggis noted.
Junior Leah Jamison led the Hodag girls. She finished 30th in D1 Small and 75th overall in division 1 with a time of 22:46.1.
"I was really happy with Leah Jamison," Laggis said. "She had a really, really strong race. Particularly, about the 2-mile mark she really picked it up. I thought she had a strong, strong race today."
Juliana Smith was second across the line for the Hodags, placing 37th in the D1 Small category (23:09.0), Brynn Teter finished 51st (24:43.8), Maria Hubler was 55th (25:42.2), Kyleah Hartman finished 57th (25:31.6), Aubrey Younker was 59th (25:31.6) and Luna Grage finished 66th (27:20.7).
"Juliana has been steady, 1-2 for us all year, so really, really good," Laggis noted. "Between Brynn and Maria, they were right there as well. Maria's such a plugger. She just goes and goes and works hard. I'm glad to see her getting better. Same with Brynn, she just goes at it day in and day out. Good improvement for the girls."
All seven GNC schools were in attendance, however Antigo, Northland Pines, Mosinee and Tomahawk run in the Division 2/3 race earlier in the day.
Medford was the runner-up in the D1 Small girls' race and was fifth in the boys' division. Lakeland was seventh in both the boys' and girls' divisions.
Laggis called the event, which featured more than 60 schools, a measuring stick race for his team.
"You find out what you are and just keep trying to keep better," he said. "We're just trying to work on dedication, being at practice and getting the repetitions in and improving. That's what we've got to keep doing the rest of the month and into October for the big race."
The Hodags return to action Thursday in the Three Lakes Invite at Big Stone Golf Course.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached [email protected].
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