Travis Houslet/Capital Newspapers
Beaver Dam's A.J. Kitchen was 26th in the Division 1 boys race at Saturday's state cross country meet.
WISCONSIN RAPIDS — Beaver Dam’s A.J. Kitchen had a solid run in his first trip to the Division 1 state cross country meet, finishing 26th Saturday afternoon.
The sophomore completed his run in a time of 16 minutes, 43 seconds on the Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids — besting his previous personal record by 14 seconds.
“We just wanted him to experience what it was like to run at state,” BD coach Hans Gochenaur said. “I didn’t think in my wildest dreams that he’d finish in the top 30.”
Kitchen was in the middle of the pack in the first mile, hovering around 50th place. After that, Kitchen made his move and picked off runners in steady fashion over the final two miles.
“He ran such a smart race,” Gochenaur said. “He set himself up so well, unlike a lot of other runners who tried to go out with the lead pack and then fell back.”
Division 2
Mayville’s girls cross country team, headed by a 35th-place run by Carissa Schneiter, finished 14th at Saturday’s Division 2 state meet.
Schneiter completed her run in 16:01. Following Schneiter were Ericka Schaefer (95th, 16:55), Kelsey Krueger (102nd, 17:00), Desiree Danner (107th, 17:04) and Carrie Schuessler (129th, 17:48).
The Cardinals finished with 306 points.
In the boys race, Columbus junior Garrett Patrick was 13th, finishing in 16:51.
Waupun freshman Andrew Klapper took 84th (17:55).
Division 3
After finishing 71st as a sophomore in 2007 and then 30th as a junior in 2008, Rio/Fall River’s Derek Johnsrud knew he had just one last chance at making it to the medal stand at the WIAA State Cross Country Meet.
The senior made the best of his final opportunity to run at the Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids on Saturday, making the medal stand with a fourth-place finish and a time of 16 minutes, 34 seconds in the Division 3 boys race.
After crossing the finish line with a time that 44 seconds better than last year’s performance at the state meet, Johnsrud said he learned a lot from his two previous trips to Wisconsin Rapids.
“I just knew, because my first year, I was kind of put back in the pack, you got to be towards the front, otherwise you won’t be able to make your move soon enough,“ Johnsrud said. “So to get up there now and be able to move up like that, I was really glad.”
Cedar Grove-Belgium senior Josh Mulloy won the race with a time of 16:15.
Johnsrud said he entered the race knowing Mulloy was likely the favorite to win, so his strategy to keep Mulloy in his sights helped keep him with the race leaders. Running with the lead dogs was also something that Johnsrud felt he could do the entire race.
-- Travis Houslet/Capital Newspapers
Girls race
Horicon sophomore Kristine Konrath completed her first trip to state with a 23rd-place run (16:14).
“It’s the best time ever for her,” Horicon coach Mike LeBouton said. “It’s nice to go to state and have a (personal best).”
Konrath started out in the middle of the front pack and then made a move after the first mile to pick up positions.
Dodgeland junior Lydia Dornfeld finished 92nd (17:32).
“The race didn’t go as we planned it out,” Trojans coach Barry Smanz said. “We’re looking forward to a return trip to state next year.”