Bears Shine with Strong Performances at Perham Cross Country Meet

by Coach Kenny Miller

The Bertha-Hewitt Cross Country team made the trip to Arvig Park in Perham on October 9 to take on one of the largest and most competitive meets of their season. Although the temperatures were still unseasonably warm for October, the Bears were greeted with a flat, fast course ideal for strong performances. The event featured 28 schools from Classes A, AA, and AAA, with some races topping more than 300 athletes, a true test of endurance and mental toughness.

The day began with the boys’ Mighty Might race, where 6th grader Jase Fitzlaff got the team off to a strong start. He placed 24th overall, clocking 7:02.0 over the 1800-meter course. Jase closed hard over the final 200 meters, passing four runners in a strong finish to cap off his season.

In the boys’ Junior High 3200-meter race, both Ambrose Heinze and Owen Schultz rose to the occasion with personal bests. Ambrose finished 64th in 13:54.9, while Owen crossed the line in 99th with a time of 15:22.9. Competing in a field of well over 120 middle school runners, both athletes showed grit and noticeable improvement.

The girls’ high school 5K race marked the first time in weeks the Bears were back to full strength. In her first race back after over a month off, Kendra Miller led the way with a determined effort, placing 22nd overall in 19:38.0. She was followed by Miette Hansel, who claimed 63rd in 21:00.5. McKayla Kapphahn (119th – 22:43.1) and Aulani Johnson (161st – 24:09.1) navigated the crowded field of 263 runners and finished solidly in the top half of the standings. Their depth and composure helped the squad regain some late-season momentum...

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