Posted: 9/8/04

Girls cross country competes at St. Cloud Apollo meet

Joe Drennan
Sports Editor

The Forest Lake High School girls cross country team didnít register a team score at the St. Cloud Apollo meet in their first race of the season, but that was by choice.

ìOur theory was that we like kids to have the opportunity to do well,î head girls cross country coach Janet Howe said. ìWe wonít necessarily put the girls in at the varsity level to get a team score when they can get some confidence at the junior varsity level.î

Four Forest Lake runners did run at the varsity level and registered some decent times. Krista Berkley was the top Forest Lake finisher with a time of 17:26 with Shawna McNamara not far behind at 17:31. Annie Dehmlow finished with a time of 18:02 and Chelynne Pringle with a time of 19:32.

ìI think the biggest problem the girls faced was the heat,î Howe said. ìWe have not had many hot days and it was really warm up there.î

At the junior varsity level, eighth grader Jena Lang surprised Howe with a seventh place finish. Lang finished the shorter race with a time of 10:43.

ìJena was definitely a good surprise,î Howe said. ìI think we had a lot of notable performances in the younger kids. We have kids who just came out and weíre hoping for more to join the team once school starts because it is never too late to join.î

Forest Lakeís next race is Saturday at the Cambridge meet at 4 p.m.

ìOur goal for the next meet is to have a full varsity team,î Howe said. ìWeíve done well there in the past and we hope to do well there again.î

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