Goodhue completes historic run in Rochester, wins section title
As Ayva Marklevits crossed the finish line and took a glance at all the other runners standing near her, realization set in. All the energy her and the rest of the Goodhue girls cross country team might not have left, was instantly recharged. Excitement and joyful tears were shed before the 30th-place runner could even finish the race.
The Goodhue team, soon surrounded by family and friends, quickly knew they had made program history for a second straight year. The Wildcats will send its first team, boys or girls, to run at state as the girls turned a goal into domination at Northern Hills Golf Course in Rochester on Thursday. They won the Section 1A title, having all their top five runners in the top 26 overall.
"After I saw there wasn't too many people from Lake City or RAACHE ahead of me, Jorja (Wagner) and Mari (O'Connor), I kind of realized it toward the end. I had two RAACHE girls in front of me in the last 800 meters. I got to pass these girls and really lock in to give us a shot," Marklevits said about her perspective toward the end. "I came in and looked around. We're all almost here and I didn't really see any of our other competition in yet. It was a surreal moment."
It was O'Connor making it to the state meet last year, the first boy or girl to compete at the cross country state meet representing Goodhue. She made it after falling just shy multiple seasons in a row. Then she got her historic moment she'd been training for.
Although it would have been sweeter to lead her team to state, too. They were close. Eight points behind Lourdes for third place and in a battle for third with Lanesboro/Fillmore Central.
"I'm very blessed to have such an amazing team. We put in so much work and it's taken years to come to this point," O'Connor said. "I'm so excited to have experienced it with this group and to be able to go through everything with them, highs and lows. It's been such a great accomplishment and I couldn't be more proud of these girls."
"Last year we missed going to state by eight points. And we knew we're right there but it's something we have to strive for next year," Marklevits added. "I don't really think right away this season we knew how much we really had a shot. I think as the season progressed, we really have that shot."
It was the opinion of the coaches and, ultimately, the girls that they were collectively fast enough to overtake teams like Lake City, Lourdes, RAACHE. All season, it was at least mentioned. The thought was they were in a good position to run well enough to possibly finish second at the section meet. Then came the HVL Conference Championship.
The Wildcats had their top three runners, O'Connor, Marklevits and Wagner all inside the top 12. Elsie Raasch ran 22nd and Charlotte Huneke was 24th. The team finished second to Byron and 19 team points ahead of Lake City, 26 ahead of fifth-place Lourdes.
A major turning point. Even though it's one of the final two guaranteed meets on the schedule, that was collective performance was a breakthrough.
"I remember at conference we were feeling so strong as a team. Just put together. All these girls were ready," O'Connor said. "We don't peak too early in the season and that has to do with our training and our coaches. Just all of us teammates being right there with each other. Peaking at the right time."
In the section run, a similar scenario to conference. Goodhue's top three pushing the pace - O'Connor ninth (20 minutes, 3.6 seconds), Wagner 10th (20:17.7) and Marklevits 14th (20:37.8). Then Raasch in 22nd (21:16.1) and Huneke in 26th (21:31.7). Brooke Betcher (21:32.9), the sixth Goodhue runner to cross the finish line, was 27th.
For O'Connor, Marklevits and Wagner, the three already came into the season ready to lead the cross country team coming off a great track season. The trio helped the K-W/Goodhue 4x800 relay to a close second-place finish at the state meet in the spring.
"Coming off such a great track season for me, Mari and Jorja. This really shows that all our hard work has paid off. It's just an amazing feeling," Marklevits said.
Lake City ended runner-up to Goodhue in the girls race. They will go to state as a team. Olivia Yotter led the Tigers by finishing third in 19:15.5.
The Class A state meet is scheduled to begin at 12:15 p.m. at Majestic Oaks Golf Course in Ham Lake on Saturday, Nov. 7.
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