Springs' Kraft wins shortened MCM Invite

SALEM — Heat was the talk of the McCook Central/Montrose Invitational.

The coaches voted to decrease the varsity race sizes to 4K for the boys and 3K for the girls.

Wessington Springs runner Jase Kraft won the boys’ race with a time of 13:43:00, while West Central’s McKayla Wieczorek took first place in the girls’ race with a time of 12:15:00. For results from the event, see Page B2.

“Because they bumped it down to a 4K, I knew I had to get out a little faster than I usually do, and I thought I executed my plan pretty well,” Kraft said.

Mitchell Christian head coach Mark Miedema said the heat was a huge factor in the race.

“You could tell on the kids’ faces that they were feeling it,” Miedema said. “I told them not to kill themselves over this race. This is only the second race of the season, and to just think of it as a preview for regions course-wise.”

Miedema said it’s hard to compare the times to past and future races because of the sudden change in distance.

“This was more of a speed workout for us. You cannot change the weather, and you’ve got to work with what you’re dealt with,” he said. “I thought it was good preparation for what can come.”

Eagle boys’ runners Kyle Glanzer and Coby Lee finished 47th and 57th, and James Krall and Isaak Peitz came in 83rd and 84th.

Mitchell Christian’s Becca Glanzer placed 16th in the girls’ race. Khiree Heid finished 33rd, Ashley Glanzer came in 44th place, Katie Reynen finished in 54th and Leah Berg came in 76th place.

“Some of the kids thrived, and I was impressed with how they did,” Miedema said. “Coby and Becca looked strong, but it’s tough to go by times considering the course was 1,000 meters shorter. You can’t judge based on this kind of race.”

Mitchell Christian continues its season at the Corsica Invitational Saturday at 9 a.m. in Corsica.

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