Cross Country

Cross-Country State is November 7 at Majestic Oaks

      Ashley Asmus is getting to be on a first-name basis with the MSHSL after her numerous visits to the State Track Tournament and now she has found her way to the State Cross-Country Meet Saturday at Majestic Oaks in Ham Lake. Let's check in with the senior with our Fast Five.

1) Why cross-country?

AA-"To help me get better at track and so I could stay in shape. I love the coaches and the team atmosphere".

2) What's the most important part of training?

AA-"The most important part is consistency and making sure you enjoy it".

3) Are you surprised you made it to State?

AA-It's a goal I set for myself this year and I knew if I worked hard and trained hard I could make it".

4) What's the best thing for you about this sport?

AA-"The relationships I have made. Meeting people from other teams and getting to know them. My team is also very close and supportive".

5) Does cross-country give you an advantage when track comes around?

AA-"Yes, it's a huge advantage. It keeps me in shape, helps with consistency and my mental toughness".

     Good luck Ashley, as usual we look for big things from you. You never disappoint! 

     Ashley Asmus advanced to the State Cross-Country Meet after a 3rd place finish at the Section meet Thursday at Eagle Ridge. Ari Dahl of Cromwell won the meet in a time of 19:24.2 while Lia Stockman of C-I was second in 19:34.1  Asmus was next in 19:44.2 She will participate in the State on November 7 at Majestic Oaks Golf Club. She talked about her day, "It was such a great race. The weather was pretty rough going into it but at least everyone is running with the same disadvantage. I was super nervous before because I am very new to cross-country and it's such a different world than track. My boyfriend Anders has been working hard to prepare me though which gave me a lot more confidence going in. My strategy was to start slower and speed up using my momentum to catch people. By the time I was in the top six I would know for sure I would advance so after that I just tried to pick off as many extra girls as i could to move up in placement. I truly had a wonderful support group around me between my family, my team and even other teams cheering for me making it so much more special." Other finishers from the McG/Aitkin team were Eleanor Hughes in 80th, Riley Jones in 88th, Alaina Henline in 89th and Piper Schmidt in 92nd. The girls finished 12th in the team standings. Lenny Hughes was 13th in the boy's competition as McG/Aitkin finished in 10th place. Noah Hughes was 29th, Noah Moss was 49th, Weston Kyllonen was 79th, Dain Sipe was 91st, Cole Schmidt was 105th and Jessi Warner finished in 106th place.

      The McG/Aitkin cross-country teams were in Proctor Tuesday for a meet with the girls finishing 15th and the boy's 18th in the competition. Ashley Asmus was 5th for the best girls finish while Eleanor Hughes was 79th, Riley Jones in 115th, Piper Schmidt was 119th and Alaina Henline ended up in 121st place. On the boys' side Lenny Hughes had the best finish, in 33rd with Noah Hughes in 52nd, Noah Moss was in 77th, Dain Sipe in 119th, Weston Kyllonen in 124th, Cole Schmidt in 128th and Jessi Warner in 130th.

      The McG/Aitkin cross-country teams were at the Polar League meet at the Pincussion Mountain Trail Tuesday. The best girls finish was Ashley Asmus who was second to Ari Dahl of Cromwell. Other finishers included Eleanor Hughes in 33rd, Riley Jones in 44th, Piper Schmidt in 46th and Alaina Henline in 47th. On the boys side Lenny Hughes finished 11th for their best finish. Noah Hughes was 29th, Noah Moss was 36th, Dain Sipe was 50th, Jessi Warner was 52nd, Cole Schmidt was 53rd and Josh Tucker finished in 54th place. 

      The McG/Aitkin cross-country teams were at Ruttgers Thursday with the boys finishing 4th and the girls 5th at the Roger Twigg Invite. Four runners set personal records in this meet including Ashley Asmus, Eleanor Hughes, Alaina Henline and Lenny Hughes for the guys. Asmus won the meet in 19:47.2 while Hughes was 12th, Henline was 27th, Riley Jones was 29th and Piper Schmidt was 32nd. On the boys side Hughes great time of 17:40.8 put him in 3rd place while Noah Hughes was 6th, Noah Moss was 12th, Weston Kyllonen was 21st, Dain Sipe was 26th and Jessi Warner finished 27th.

        Ashley Asmus finished third at the McGregor Cross-Country Invitational held on Tuesday to lead the McG/Ait team to a 4th place finish. Asmus ran the Minnesota National golf course in 21:17. Other finishers included Eleanor Hughes in 19th, Alaina Henline in 28th, Riley Jones in 29th and Piper Schmidt in 30th. Meanwhile the boys finished in 5th place. Best finish for McG/Ait was Lenny Hughes in 4th with a time of 19:06. Noah Hughes was right behind in 5th, Noah Moss was 11th, Weston Kyllonen was 28th, Dain Sipe was 31st, Cole Schmidt was 32nd and Hunter Ward was 33rd, 

     Ashley Asmus finished 2nd at the Deer River Invite at White Oak on Tuesday with a time of 20:51.8, four seconds behind the winner Ari Dahl of Cromwell-Wright. Next best for McG/Aitkin was Eleanor Hughes at 21st.Piper Schimidt was 32nd, Alaina Henline was 36th and Riley Jones was 40th. The girls were 4th overall.

     Lenny Hughes was 4th for the boys with a time of 18"17. Next finishers for McG/Aitkin were Noah Hughes in 12th, Noah Moss in 23rd, Weston Kyllonen in 46th, Hunter Ward in 58th, Dain Sipe in 59th and Cole Schmidt in 60th. The boys finished 5th.

     The McG/Aitkin cross-country teams were in Hibbing on Thursday with the girls finishing 14th and the boys in 16th. For the girls Ashley Asmus led the way finishing in the 9th spot in 19:54.2, a personal record. Eleanor Hughes was 103rd, Piper Schmidt was 126th, Alaina Henline was 129th and Riley Jones was 131st. The best boys finish was Lenny Hughes in 7th while Noah Hughes was 65th with a new personal record. Noah Moss was 90th, Weston Kyllonen was 132nd, Hunter Ward was 141st, Joshua Tucker was 143rd, Dain Sipe was 144th, Colke Schmidt was 145th and Jessi Warner finished 150th.