Welch, Holak Win Viking Challenge Race

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Aug 31, 2012

Dwight Cadwell-NSO

Proctor senior Matt Welch continues with his dominance of the local cross country scene as he captured first place Thursday in the Cook County Invitational in Grand Marias. Welch finished the 5k race with a winning time of 16:08; a full one minute and
20 seconds ahead of the second place finisher, Kieran Scannell of Exeter.

Welch’s first place finish was not enough to lead Proctor to a first place finish as the Duluth East Greyhounds captured first place in the team event. East finished with a team total of 25 while Proctor was second with a total of 57, Hibbing was third with 68, Cook County-Two Harbors was fourth with 90 and Carlton finished fifth with a score of 120.

Jacob Welch of Proctor finished fifth overall, while South Ridge’s Noah Squires placed 10th overall. Boston Gilderman and Kody Stevens finished 20th and 21st respectively. Duncan Fox was the Bulldogs top finisher while Masen Virginia was Wrenshall’s top finisher.

Duluth East also won the team event in the girl’s division, while South Ridge placed second, Cook County-Two Harbors was third, while Hibbing was fourth and Carlton placed fifth overall.

Abby Holak of Duluth East was the overall winner on the girls side with a 16:58.6 time. Freshman Gracelynn Otis of South Ridge was just five seconds back to capture second place in the girls 4k event.

Emma Bloom of South Ridge finished fourth while Emma Foxx of Carlton was sixth.

Other local girl’s finishers included Rachel Land of South Ridge coming in 16th place; while it was Taylor Joyal and Anna Hall both of South Ridge finishing in the top 30. Carlton’s Courtney Bauer was 31st and Proctor’s Cassie Moran was 33rd.

Dwight Cadwell can be reached at dwight@northlandsportsonline.com