Prep runner shocks himself, leads the Crusaders to 3rd-place finish

MILACA – The look on Tyler Johnson’s after the race said a lot about what happened during it.

It was a look of elation and near shock.

Johnson, who is not rated in the state coaches poll individual rankings, took second in the Class 2A varsity boys cross-country race at the Mega Meet at Stone’s Throw Golf Course. He covered the 5,000-meter course with a time of 16 minutes, 42 seconds.

“That was a surprise to me,” said Johnson, a Cathedral High School senior. “I had no idea I was going to run that well.

“It looked like the rest of my team ran great races, too. That’s the most important part.”

The Crusaders, who are ranked sixth, took third behind top-ranked Martin County West and fourth-ranked Perham. Perham is the defending state champion, Cathedral took third and Martin County West fifth at last year’s state meet.

“We weren’t really interested in what place we took, we just had to have a race that put us in the ballpark, in the money,” Cathedral coach Fred Rupp said.

Added Rupp: “We ran competitively with every team that was here today.

“We hadn’t seen Martin County West and we ran well with them. We’d seen Perham before and we ran better this time against Perham. We wanted to find out in the state-wide competition how we’d fare and we’re in the thick of things.”

There were four classes of varsity races at the meet, which had more than 5,500 runners from more than 150 teams compete. Holdingford, which is ranked No. 10 in Class A, won the Class A boys team title. The Crusaders were the other area team to finish in the top three.

That, in part, was due to Johnson’s performance. Johnson was a bit surprised by the way he ran because he has been battling shin splints.

“I was hoping to place, top 20 at best,” said Johnson, who added that his time was his fastest of the season by 18-20 seconds. “I felt good.

“I usually start off really fast and I toned it down for this race and it saved me a lot of energy at the end to pass people.”

Battling an injury is nothing new for Johnson, who is in his fourth varsity season.

“He’s had back injuries, stress fractures ... a lot of problems over the years,” Rupp said. “A lot of that is how he runs because he’s a very aggressive runner. When you put that kind of pressure on muscles and bones, they sometimes break down.

“This year he’s been very strong. Each one of my senior guys has missed years because of injuries.”

Cathedral senior Eli Stark-Haws took 11th with a time of 17:21.

Many of the top area performers at the Mega Meet have had similar issues.

Class A boys

Holdingford senior Andrew Zachman, who is ranked fourth in the state, took second (16:23). Zachman missed the end of last season because of stress fractures in both of his feet.

“I had to miss two-thirds of the track season,” said Zachman, who was eighth at last fall’s state cross-country meet. “I don’t like to set goals with where I place.

“I was happy with my time. I’m in a stronger position than I was last year at this time.”

Led by Zachman and senior Abe Skwira (8th, 16:53), Holdingford won the 31-team Class A team title with 108 points. Mounds Park Academy was second with 172.

Royalton senior Zach Carlson, who is ranked 12th, took third (16:39) with a late burst.

“It felt great to have that extra bit of energy,” Carlson said. “This (race) is at midseason and it tells you where you came from and where you’re headed.

“It’s got all the best competition around. It’s a good benchmark.”

Carlson, who is being recruited by Wisconsin-Stout and North Dakota State, missed last season with a hernia that he had to have surgically repaired last winter.

“This feels amazing,” he said of racing well. “Last year, missing out on this ... it’s not even explainable, especially now that I’m back.”

Class 2A girls

For a lot of runners, taking ninth at the Mega Meet would be something to celebrate. Cathedral senior Rachel Eickhoff, though, was disappointed with that finish and her time of 15:42 on the 4,000-meter course.

“I was definitely hoping to be in the top five,” said Eickhoff, who took 11th in last fall’s state meet. “I’m having some digestive problems that’s really getting in the way of things.

“You can’t train well when you’re not working at 100 percent.”

Eickhoff said that doctors have not been able to diagnose what is causing the digestive problems and that she has lost 10 pounds since the end of track season.

“I was really trying to positive-talk myself,” Eickhoff said of Saturday’s race. “But my legs weren’t getting the positive talk.”

Class 3A boys

St. Cloud Tech senior Cory Rouw continued his strong season with a sixth-place finish. Rouw was limited to the first four races of last cross-country season because of a knee injury.

“I’m happy with it because that’s a good 6-7-second (personal record),” said Rouw, who had a time of 16:39. “I’m just glad to continue to see improvements. I’ve set high goals and I’m trying to reach them.”

Rouw said that it was a mental battle to find his pace during the race because the adrenaline was flowing.

“My first mile was like a 5:10 and I was like, I can’t keep that up,” he said. “I saw these guys dropping back and I’m like, yeah, obviously.

“I just tried to settle in and do what I could. ”

Rouw said he worked out 6-7 times a week roller skiing during the summer to get in shape for this season. Rouw took fourth in pursuit last winter at the state Nordic Ski meet.

Class 3A girls

Another runner from Tech who has done some cross training is freshman Lauren Steinke. Steinke competes in triathlons on a club team and said she scaled back some of her cross training this week.

“I was coming off an easier (training) week because my times haven’t been where I really wanted them,” said Steinke, who took 13th with a time of 15:21. “Today, I improved by 20 seconds, which is good.

“Right now, I just might be at a plateau and, hopefully by sections, I’ll be back at my peak.”

Steinke was 71st at last year’s state cross-country meet and said she cross-trained for triathlon throughout the season.

“I’m not going to stop cross training because I’m competing on the elite team for triathlon next year,” she said.

Team of the future

One of the unique elements to the Mega Meet is that there are races for age groups ranging from seventh through 10th grades. Sartell coach Jeff Kellerman moved some of his varsity runners back to the freshman race and the Sabres won boys team titles in the seventh-, eighth- and ninth-grade races.

For complete results, visit www.raceberryjam.com.

Mega Meet results

Class 3A boys team results (24 teams) — 1. New Prague 131; 18. Sartell 441; St. Cloud Apollo, St. Cloud Tech, inc.

Class 3A boys individuals (177 runners) — 1. Matthew Lundstrom (Detroit Lakes) 15:56; 6. Cory Rouw (SCT) 16:39.

Class 3A girls team results (27 teams) — 1. Chaska 83; 6. Sartell 191; 26. St. Cloud Apollo 694; St. Cloud Tech inc.

Class 3A girls individuals (192 runners) — 1. Karly Ackley (Grand Forks Central) 14:24; 13. Lauren Steinke (St. Cloud Tech) 15:21; 17. Mackenzie Dockendorf (Sartell) 15:28; Vera Lindhorst (Tech) 15:52.

Class 2A boys team results (24 teams) — 1. Martin County West 83; 3. St. Cloud Cathedral 136; 18. Foley 463; 20. Melrose 463; Milaca, Paynesville, inc.

Class 2A boys individuals (181 runners) — 1. Isaac Overmyer (Park Rapids) 16:14; 2. Tyler Johnson (SCC) 16:42; 11. Eli Stark-Hawks (SCC) 17:21.

Class 2A girls team results (18 teams) — 1. Lac qui Parle Valley/Dawson-Boyd 71; 9. St. Cloud Cathedral 253; Foley, Melrose, Milaca, inc.

Class 2A girls individuals (146 runners) — 1. Alaysia Freetly (LQPV/D-B) 15:13; 9. Rachel Eickhoff (SCC) 15:42; 20. Carmen Ebel (SCC) 16:13.

Class A boys team results (31 teams) — 1. Holdingford 108; 29. Sauk Centre 713; Pierz, Royalton, St. Cloud Christian, inc.

Class A boys individuals (231 runners) — 1. Connor Schank (Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted) 16:22; 2. Andrew Zachman (H) 16:23; 3. Zachary Carlson (Royalton) 16:39; 8. Abe Skwira (H) 16:53; 21. Tremayne Collins (R) 17:29; 24. Ben Borash (R) 17:35; 25. Marcus Rick (H) 17:36.

Class A girls team results (29 teams) — 1. Trinity River Ridge 51; 4. Holdingford 178; 22. Pierz 513; 24. Sauk Centre 537; Royalton, St. Cloud Christian, Paynesville, inc.

Class A girls individuals (219 runners) — 1. Theresa Mueller (Trinity River Ridge) 14:59; 11. Allie Ruprecht (Holdingford) 16:13; 18. Angel Rick (H) 16:28; 21. Emily Wolter (H) 16:37; 23. Madison Greenwaldt (Sauk Centre) 16:45.

Follow Mick Hatten on Twitter @MickHatten or reach him by phone at 259-3621.