By Paul Lecker

Sports Reporter

WISCONSIN RAPIDS — Stratford junior Johnelle Miner finished 41st to lead the Tigers at the 2014 WIAA State Cross Country Championships on Saturday at Ridges Golf Course.

Miner finished in 20:58.56 to lead all local runners in the Division 3 girls race. The Tigers, making their first state appearance as a team since 1980, finished last among the 16 teams in the standings with 342 points.

Freshman Kaylee Hollatz was 54th in 21:14.10 for Stratford.

Auburndale freshman Kali Karl was 73rd in 21:38.60, and Nadia King of Spencer finished 78th in 21:49.69.

The Marshfield Columbus Catholic boys team finished 14th out of 16 teams in the Division 3 boys field.

Ben Behling led the Dons, taking 61st in 17:59.20. Leonard Steinert was 88th in 18:25.13. Behling took nearly a minute off of his time from a year ago at the state meet.

“Today was a wonderful close to a successful season,” Columbus Catholic coach Danielle Wojcik said. “I am very proud and please with all my harrier’s performances. We improved from last year’s state appearance in team placement and individual times.”

Stratford’s Cade Lehman, an individual qualifier, finished 72nd in 18:06.64.

Oshkosh Lourdes won the Division 3 girls team title, and Darlington took first in the boys field.

Click here to view complete results from the WIAA state meet.

2014 WIAA State Cross Country Championships
Nov. 1, at Ridges Golf Course, Wisconsin Rapids
Division 3 Girls
Team scores: 1. Oshkosh Lourdes 68; 2. Westby 90; 3. Poynette 127; 4. La Crosse Aquinas 147; 5. Phillips 173; 6. Rosholt 205; 7. Brookfield Academy 227; 8. Boscobel 229; 9. Kenosha St. Joseph 238; 10. Chequamegon 242; 11. Fond du Lac St. Mary’s Springs 256; 12. Glenwood City 256; 13. Howards Grove 271; 14. Fall Creek 309; 15. Cameron 339; 16. Stratford 342.
Top 5 and local finishers: 1. Delaney Greene (MARION) 19:05.43; 2. Jennifer Lichter (LCA) 19:11.76; 3. Keely Foley (BOS) 19:32.53; 4. Ryanne Schneider (LCA) 19:43.66; 5. Noelle Maire (BELLEVILLE) 19:44.12; 41. Johnelle Miner (STR) 20:58.56; 54. Kaylee Hollatz (STR) 21:14.10; 73. Kali Karl (AUBURNDALE) 21:38.60; 78. Nadia King (SPENCER) 21:49.69; 129. Sammy Griesbach (STR) 23:17.49; 132. Courtney Krall (STR) 23:20.67; 140. Gabby Leonhard (STR) 23:59.75; 148. Samantha Kaiser (STR) 25:50.91.
Division 3 Boys
Team scores: 1. Darlington 54; 2. Chequamegon 90; 3. Albany 90; 4. La Crosse Aquinas 146; 5. Eau Claire Immanuel 203; 6. Sheboygan Area Lutheran 207; 7. Brookwood 224; 8. Chippewa Falls McDonell 225; 9. Marathon 233; 10. Brillion 242; 11. Brookfield Academy 255; 12. Wisconsin Rapids Assumption 269; 13. Rosholt 280; 14. Marshfield Columbus Catholic 305; 15. Webster 315; 16. Racine St. Catherine’s 330.
Top 5 and local finishers: 1. Kevin Koski (CHQ) 16:06.72; 2. Dakota Kauffman (BOSCOBEL) 16:18.47; 3. Jaden Komprood (DAR) 16:28.76; 4. Brandon Books (CHETEK-WEYERHAEUSER) 16:42.42; 5. John David Ford (KENOSHA ST. JOSEPH) 16:44.21; 61. Ben Behling (MCC) 17:59.20; 72. Cade Lehman (STRATFORD) 18:06.64; 88. Leonard Steinert (MCC) 18:25.13; 103. Jeremy Binder (MCC) 18:50.47; 108. Peyton Nystrom (MCC) 18:58.23; 131. Benny Frericks (MCC) 19:36.82; 132. Jeremiah Giles (MCC) 19:41.63; 133. Kienan McIntee (MCC) 19:43.27.

(Hub City Times Sports Reporter Paul Lecker is also the publisher of  MarshfieldAreaSports.com.)