Struffert
competes
at second
state meet
Posted 11/7/02

Senior Jessi Struffert concluded her cross country career at Milaca by competing in her second Class A State Meet Saturday at St. Olaf College in Northfield.

Struffert finished 88th in the rugged field with a time of 17:06 over 4,000 meters.

Struffert, who also advanced to the state meet as an eighth grader in 1998, claimed a berth in the 2002 state meet by finishing ninth at the Section 5A Meet Oct. 24 at the Pebble Creek Golf Course in Becker. She set a Milaca record with a time of 15:28 at the section meet, breaking a mark she had set at the sub-section meet.

"Jessi wasnít feeling well and she struggled Saturday," said Milaca Coach Randy Furman. "The field at state is so strong that if youíre not feeling 100 percent youíre going to fall behind in a hurry.

"But, she had an outstanding season and an outstanding career. Sheís been an inspiration for our other runners. And, now sheís got the spring track season to look forward to."

Struffert is Milacaís record-holder in the 400-meter dash and she placed third in that event at the state meet last spring.

Earlier this season she gained all-conference honors at the Rum River Cross Country Meet.

Lauren Brueberg of Minnehaha Academy won the Class A girls race Saturday with a time of 15:11. Nicole Calabrese of Kingsland was second in 15:25 and 5A champion Rachel Stangler of Albany was third in 15:28.

New London-Spicer won the girls Class A title with a score of 109, with Staples-Motley finishing second at 118.

Staples-Motley won the boys Class A team crown with a score of 77 while 5A champion St. Cloud Cathedral placed second at 127.

Pat Lehman of Plainview was the Class A boys individual winner with a time of 16:21 over 5,000 meters.

Big Lake ninth grader Brenna Carey, the 2002 Rum River girls champion, won the Class AA state girls race Saturday with a time of 14:57.

Hopkins swept both girls and boys team honors in Class AA.