Bruns, Baker lead BP cross country teams

With a strong breeze and temperatures in the low 50s, runners from Blooming Prairie, Maple River and host Hayfield competed in a triangular Oct. 1.
Two very good boys and girls teams, Maple River and Hayfield, placed ahead of third-place Blooming Prairie in the Gopher Conference race over a 3.1 mile course that started on the Hayfield High School grounds.
In the boys varsity meet, Maple River ran away with the meet, scoring 31 points. Hayfield was second with 37 points and Blooming Prairie ended third at 55 points.
Hosea Baker was the top Blossom finisher with a time of 20:02. Following Baker as one of the top five Blossom boys finishers were: Alex Miller in 20:32, Jesse Cardenas in 21:02, Tyler Forystek in 21:06 and Dylan Johnson in 21:30.
"We had nice balance in our 3-8 place guys which should be a good sign heading into the conference next week," remarked Coach John Bruns.
The Blossoms girls varsity cross country team took second behind a very solid Maple River team, which took first through fourth and sixth places.
Junior Bobbie Bruns broke up the Eagles' bid for a perfect score of 15 with her fifth place finish. Bruns ran the course in 24:40.
Emily Miller turned in the Blossoms' second best time with a 26:01 clocking. Chloe McCarthy was next in 26:24 and Abby Smith finished in 26:45.
Haven Carlson stepped up with her best run of the year and was the Blossoms' No. 5 girl. She ran the course in 27:17.
The Blossom girls needed a "great run" from Carlson as two of the Blossoms' usual top five runners did not run (Maggie Bruns and Megan Oswald).
The Gopher Conference Cross Country Meet is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 10 at 1 p.m.
The boys Section 1A Meet is scheduled for the Northern Hills Golf Club on Thursday, Oct. 15 and the girls Section 1A Meet is scheduled for the Northern Hills Golf Club on Friday, Oct. 16.