A race featuring the top-3 teams in Section 8A at the Park Rapids Invitational on Monday really came down to a battle between the host Panthers, ranked No. 11 in Class AA, and No. 12-A Perham.  Despite going without their top runner, senior Cassie Beseman, Perham put all 5 scoring runners in the top-18.  But, led by meet medalist, No. 6 ranked Lydia Lutz (14:48), Park Rapids barely edged the Lady Jackets by 1-point, 61-62.  Warroad was a distant 3^rd with 102 points.

 “We decided to rest Cassie,” Perham head coach Jeff Morris said. “She suffered an Achilles strain at the HOL Conference meet last Tuesday. She is basically 100 percent, but we just felt like it was more important to not risk restraining the Achilles before sections.”

With Beseman out, a pair of jr. high runners ran personal best times in leading the Jackets.  Eighth grader Sydney Karleswas the team’s top runner, taking 8^th overall, 7^th among team runners, with a time of 15:39.  Right behind was 7^th grader Brynnan Covington, who was 9^th overall and 8^th among team runners, in 15:44.

A pair of sophomores were next, with Racole Karelstaking 17^th (14^th team) in 16:01.  The next to cross was Lizzie Fudge(18^th overall, 15^th team) with a time of 16:13.  The final scoring runner was Ciarrin Covington, who was 23^rd overall (18^th team) in 16:22. 

Mary Riestenbergfinished 32^nd overall (16:42), and Kellyn Barneywas 39^th (17:02).

“Our other girls have been looking for that break out race, and today it happened,” Morris said.  “Workouts have just been awesome and they just needed to have a race where the confidence in workouts translated to their racing.”

The Perham girl's J.V. team won their race at Park Rapids.

Perham’s next event will be the Section 8A Meet on Friday, Oct. 28 in Bagley starting at 4 p.m.  The Jackets are the defending 8A and finished 12^th in their 8^th straight appearance at State.  The top-2 team’s from the Section Meet advance to State.

Detroit Lakes finished 7^th with 159 points.  The Lakers top runner was Abby Ullyott, who finished 12^th in 15:56.  They will compete next at the Section 8AA Meet in Cold Spring on Oct. 27.