Huskies boys’ crack top 10 at state

Owatonna boys cross-country secured a team bid for state by just four points at the Section 1AAA meet late last month, but the Huskies more than proved they belong amongst the state’s best last week by finishing 10^th out of 16 teams at state.

Senior leaders Ayoub Farah and Dawson Levy led the pack with the former taking seventh overall and the latter finishing in 30^th.

“Everyone finally toughened up mentally. In the past few years, we weren’t as mentally tough as we needed to be. We were still serious about the sport, but not serious enough. This year, me, Ayoub and Mich [Gentz], we’ve been a bit harder on the guys, but it’s been for our own good. It’s the first time since 2008 our boys team has been here. I think the discipline of the sport plays into how well we’ve done this year,” said Levy.

Farah’s fast outing came straight out of the starting box.

The senior hung near the front of the pack in fourth place for the first two miles of the race before losing a bit of pace late to secure seventh.

His final time of 15:36.2 was not only a personal record in the most important meet of his life, but also earned him all-state honors.

Meanwhile, Levy found himself bunched into a tight pack of runners where the difference between places was a mere head-bob.

After completing the first mile in 27^th and falling to 33^rd after two miles, Levy kicked hard down the chute to gain a few spots back and take 30^th overall in 16:06.6.

Also finishing for Owatonna were Gentz, Grayson Slotsve, Andrew Jacott, Kaiden Struss and Mason Myrom.

Outside of Farah and Levy, Slotsve was the lone other Huskies’ athlete to crack the top 100 runners.

The junior’s race was far different from his teammates as he had to use a late surge of energy to overtake nearly 50 competitors.

After starting the race in 130^th through one mile, Slotsve improved to 101^st after two miles before using everything in his gas tank to secure 83^rd in 16:44.0.

The trio of Jacott, Gentz and Struss followed soon after in a close pack with Jacott finishing in 121^st, Gentz taking 128^th and Struss crossing in 139^th.

Myrom was the final Husky to make his mark at state by finishing 156^th place.

The team’s momentum had its younger athletes ready to return to state next season, as multiple athletes were already discussing how they would make it back.

“It’s going to take a lot to replace our two seniors this year, but we have a pack of guys who are hungry to get back. Obviously, they’re already stating that. It’s going to take from the first day of summer to the next year at this course hopefully again… They have it in them and I’m excited to see if they can get back here again,” said Owatonna boys Head Coach Luke Holt.

Holt’s Huskies impressed the supporters in attendance, but they also caught the eye of a program legend.

“I’m really proud of the way [Holt] has taken over, and also with coach [Jacob] Jensen too. They’ve been doing a great job. They’re young and they get the kids fired up. I feel really privileged to manage the meets we have at Brooktree Golf Course and watch these guys run and develop. I just remember these guys as little kids when I was in my last year coaching. Now they’re growing up and some are graduating, but it’s really enjoyable to see. I’m really proud of those guys and proud of their coaches,” said former Owatonna boys head coach Dave Chatelaine.