Devine, Brophy top Ely finishers as nearly 200 race here
As the season goes on, Ely’s high school boys cross country team seems to be getting deeper and deeper.
That was evident Tuesday, during the Timberwolves’ only home meet of the season.
A whopping seven Ely runners were among the top-18 individual finishers at the Ely Invitational, propelling the team to a first-place finish among seven schools in the event at the Ely Golf Course.
The Ely girls were second overall on a beautiful fall day, when temperatures reached the 70-degree mark.
The top individual finishers for the Wolves were Wyatt Devine, who was third in the 5,000-meter boys race, and Molly Brophy, who took ninth in the girls division over the same distance.
In the boys division, Ely used its depth to slip past Proctor, even though the Rails had three of the top-11 finishers.
Devine took third in 17:35.2, and came within a second-and-a-half of former Ely student Brady Forsberg, who now attends school at Mesabi East and was the individual runner-up.
Hermantown’s Cooper Lucarelli won in 17:27.7.
Ely senior Otto Devine placed 10th in 18:29.5, and the team title was won by the Wolves with their next several racers.
Junior Brooks Brenny took 12th in 18:43.2 and sophomore Blake Houde (18:46.9) was right behind in 13th.
Junior Mason Kurnava (15th, 19:06.3), senior Drew Johnson (17th, 19:17.3) and junior Oliver Hohenstein (18th, 19:19.2) piled up points and allowed the Wolves to gain the win.
Other Ely finishers were Aksel Skustad (23rd, 19:32.2), Grant Chittum (25th, 19:49.2) and Mason Molden (60th, 23:46.5).
Hermantown had four of the top-six girls finishers and ran away with the team title in the girls division, but the hosts were a solid second.
Molly Brophy placed ninth in 21:18.3, and she was one of four Wolves in the top-17.
Katy Brophy took 12th in
22:03.9, with teammates Elsa Ellerbroek (16th, 23:12.4) and Isabella Macho (17th,
23:16.4) closely following.
Three other Wolves competed with Payson Kundinger in 26th (24:36.5), Lillie O’Neill in 32nd (25:27.3) and Lucy Dunn in 35th (25:57.4). Tuesday’s action also included 2,600 meter junior high races.
Ely results were: Junior High Boys
2. Grady Anderson,
9:10.6;
4. Boden Devine, 9:37.6;
5. Liam Kurnava, 9:47.5;
9. Alden Harding, 9:52.5;
12. Elliot Eastham,
10:00.6;
14. Hayden Engen,
10:29.5;
21. Con nor Macho,
11:10.9;
25. Jimmy McCarter,
11:23.7;
32. Fletcher Chopp,
11:58.5;
38. Garrison White,
12:43.5;
43. Bryce Houde, 14:01.5;
44. Sawyer Anderson,
14:07.5; Junior High Girls 5. Sally Dunn, 11:19.5; 6. Jenna Bermel, 11:37.5;
22. Macy Coombe,
14:41.7;
23. Kelsie O’Neill,
15:03.5.
The Ely teams return to action Saturday, traveling to Duluth to take part in the Swain Invitational - one of Minnesota’s largest prep cross country events.
The Iron Range Conference championship follows Thursday, Oct. 9, at Hoyt Lakes.
