Allmer, Nieland pace Blue Jay runners

Alison Allmer led the girls and Jake Nieland led the Blue Jays boys at the West Fargo Invite Thursday at Johnson Park in Moorhead.

Both JHS teams placed eighth in the meet. Full results were not available at press time.

Allmer’s time of 15:29 was good for sixth, not as high as she may have liked, but still solid.

“It’s maybe a little further back then she wanted, but it was a tough meet and to be up there in sixth in still pretty good,” said JHS cross country coach Ken Gardner.

Elizabeth Entzel was the Jays’ second runner again. The junior’s time of 17:18 was good for 18th.

“Elizabeth has shown a lot of improvement from last year. She’s doing a good job for us,” Gardner said.

Ashley Muller (18:25) and Julie Fuchs (18:29) were 55th and 57, respectively. Muller finished strong, passing a handful of runners, including Fuchs. Kaitlin Grosgebauer (19:21) rounded out the JHS lineup.

Nieland was the top runner for the second straight meet for the Blue Jays.

None of their top five placed higher than 32nd, but they did finish within 42 seconds of each other.

“It’s nice to have a pack pretty close together like we have,” Gardner said. “Now we have to try and keep moving those guys up the ladder a little bit.”

Cory Goehner’s 18:26 was good for 35th. He started fast and struggled late for a time of 18:26. Joe Jensen was 38th in 18:36.

Phil Manley (18:41) and Alec Redmann (19:02) crossed in 44th and 54th, respectively.

The Blue Jays are back in action a week from today (Sept. 10) in Aberdeen.

Tags: high school, cross country, sports, jays, allmer, nieland