Bears Roar to Victory at Home Invitational

by Coach Kenny Miller

The Bertha-Hewitt Cross Country team stayed close to home this week, hosting their annual invitational at the scenic Double Eagle Golf Course in Eagle Bend. The event drew ten teams, including nearly all of the Park Region Conference schools. Despite the warm weather, the Bears thrived on the fast course and turned in strong performances across the board.

The boys’ varsity squad stole the spotlight, competing for the first time this season with a full lineup. Senior standout Brady Rach asserted himself as the runner to beat in the conference, capturing first place with a commanding time of 16:26.1. Henry Lockwood continued his steady climb toward the front of the pack, finishing 4th overall in 17:20.2. Making an impressive varsity debut, 8th grader Nolan Rach clocked 17:22.4 for 6th place. Close behind, Gunnar Barthel showed grit at the finish line, outkicking a competitor to secure 7th in 17:45.1. Another 8th grader, Vance Lockwood, proved he belongs at the varsity level with a strong 13th-place effort in 18:51.3. Rounding out the lineup, Jakub Stovicek continued his trend of improvement, lowering his time for the third straight meet. With five runners in the top 15, the Bears claimed the team title with 31 points, ahead of Wadena-Deer Creek (46), Ottertail Central (75), Ashby-Brandon-Evansville (108), and United North Central (127)...

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