Ely boys top field in home meet

ELY- The Ely boys cross country team defended its home course with a narrow victory at the Ely Invitational last Thursday, while the girls finished second in an equally tight team race.
The Ely Golf Course offered a challenging, hilly layout bright with fall colors, with lightly overcast skies, a brisk wind, and cool temperatures providing a fitting backdrop for a fall race.
The boys scored 51 points to edge Greenway/Nashwauk-Keewatin by one point. Stella Maris Academy finished third with 67, followed by Rock Ridge with 95 and Mt. Iron-Buhl with 127.
Blake Houde led the Wolves with a runner-up finish in 16:57.6, while Wyatt Devine placed fifth in 17:21.3. Oliver Hohenstein finished 11th in 18:03.7, Oren Solum took 14th in 18:35.0, and Aksel Skustad completed Ely’s scoring five in 19th at 18:52.0.
The narrow finish left little room for error, and Ely’s five scoring runners all had to hold their spots to keep the Wolves in front. Houde and Devine gave Ely the front-end points it needed, while Hohenstein, Solum, and Skustad kept the pack tight enough to hold off the Titans.
The girls’ team standings were even more tightly packed, with Esko winning at 56 points, Ely taking second with 57, and Rock Ridge finishing third with 58.
Molly Brophy led the Wolves in ninth place at 21:21.4. Mattie Lindsay finished 11th in 21:57.7, Isabella Macho followed in 12th at 21:59.6, and Katy Brophy took 13th in 22:06.6. Ely’s first four runners crossed the line within a span of just 45.2 seconds.
Payson Kundinger completed the scoring five in 33rd place at 23:45.2, giving the Wolves a spread of 2:23.8 between their first and fifth finishers.
Head Coach Jayne Dusich said Blake Houde, Oliver Hohenstein, Oren Solum, Isabella Macho, Katy Brophy, and Lucy Dunn all set personal records. “They all set goal times they want to race,” she said. “It was nice to have close races with the team scores.”
“Ely’s meet went very well with the weather being cooler,” Dusich said. “A lot of thanks go out to all the parent and teacher volunteers who help with parking, the starter, the sound system /music, the bikers leading the pack and the end cart, cheering on the course, the finish line, awards, concessions, clean up and all before that the Golf Club for letting us run there and providing golf carts, tables, garbage cans, electricity. It takes a lot of help to pull it off.”
Boys varsity results
Blake Houde, 2nd, 16:57.6; Wyatt Devine, 5th, 17:21.3; Oliver Hohenstein, 11th, 18:03.7; Oren Solum, 14th, 18:35.0; Aksel Skustad, 19th, 18:52.0; Mason Kurnava, 21st, 18:54.6; Grady Anderson, 28th, 19:19.0; Grant Chittum, 34th, 19:32.2; Liam Kurnava, 42nd, 20:10.8; Emory Hohenstein, 78th, 23:28.5; Trynn Weisinger, 87th, 24:27.7.
Girls varsity results
Molly Brophy, 9th, 21:21.4; Mattie Lindsay, 11th, 21:57.7; Isabella Macho, 12th, 21:59.6; Katy Brophy, 13th, 22:06.6; Payson Kundinger, 33rd, 23:45.2; Lucy Dunn, 40th, 24:04.3; Moxie Lindsay, 48th, 24:54.8; Lillie O’Neill, 52nd, 25:42.0; Sally Dunn, 67th, 28:34.5.