Comet freshmen shine in high school XC debut

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

CHARLES CITY — There have likely been countless personal-record times performed by runners fleeing from a swarm of yellow-jackets.

So with several rather aggressive species chasing and taking stabs at runners negotiating the cross country course at Wildwood Municipal Golf Course during Thursday’s Charles City Invitational, it probably helped quicken the pace.

But agitated wasps weren’t the only ones creating a buzz during the first XC meet of the season for the participating schools.

Charles freshmen Xander Graeser and Nick Williams were the highest placing runners for the Comets in the boys varsity 5K race with respective fourth- and 13th-place finishes to start their high school varsity careers.

The last time Graeser ran at Wildwood was last spring during the Full Moon 5K. Recording a time of 18 minutes, 6 seconds, Graeser dominated the field as the next runner in wasn’t until three minutes later.

Running on a more-hilly 5K course on Thursday, Graeser got under 18 (17:57) while finishing behind state-qualifying seniors Nolan Evans of Jesup (17:22) and Nick Kepford of Waverly-Shell Rock (17:27), and WS-R junior Caleb Hoins (17:52).

Williams came through the chute at 18:54.

The only other freshman finishing in the Top 10 in the boys race was Denver’s Talan LaFrentz (8th, 18:22).

Rounding out the top five Charles City runners in the boys race were sophomore Isaac Thompson (14th, 18:56), senior Jacob Vais (22nd, 19:21) and senior Clayton Rand (24th, 19:23).

Senior two-time individual state qualifier Lydia Staudt was the top Charles City placer in the girls with a 5K time of 23:16, good enough for 16th place.

Winning the girls race was Jesup senior Amanda Treptow (20:10), followed by Denver freshman Reeve Ristau (20:16), Jesup sophomore Claire Wright (20:23), Jesup freshman Mkenzie Wilson (20:27) and Denver senior Chloe Ristau (20:33).

Rounding out the top five Charles City girls were sophomore Lauren Staudt (27th, 23:56), junior Olivia Litterer (28th, 24:00.4), junior Harper McInroy (29th, 24:00.7) and junior Natalie White (42nd, 25:21).