The Detroit Lakes boys' cross country team's Section 8-2A hopes were derailed about 1.5 miles into Thursday's race in Rocori, after Laker lead man Wes Bakken took a tumble.
Bakken tried to regain his position in the top 15, but was unable to finish the race, as the Lakers' high hopes of finishing in the top three dissipated into an eighth-place finish.
"I don't know exactly what happened, but Wes tripped during the race and continued for about another quarter mile, before he couldn't go on," said DL head boys' coach Bill Kvebak. "Not only did it hit the team's score, I think it hit their psyche, as well, seeing their lead runner go down.
"It was a little deflating."
As expected, Moorhead won the team title with 52 points, while the Lakers finished with a 206 mark.
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DL's Jason Stallman led the way for the team, taking 30th with a time of 17:29.7. Patrick Bakken was next in at 34th with a mark of 17:34.0.
Other Laker finishers included Zach Foltz in 38th (17:35.2), Travis King at No. 42 (17:47.9), Mike Okeson in 62nd at 18:08.9 and Tom Sorum in 73rd with a time of 18:19.3.
"We are obviously disappointed when you set goals as high as finishing second in the section," Kvebak said. "But you can't fault the kids' efforts. I just reminded them that one race does not make an entire season."
Section 8-2A was as tough as it ever has been, with 16:28 being the cutoff to qualify for state individually.
Moorhead's Glen Ellingson set the pace by winning the section with a time of 15:57.5.
"We were hoping to push four to five guys into the top 30, but we just didn't make that move towards the end of the race," Kvebak said. "But in this section, you need to run the best race of the season and we just didn't have that."
But the season still was one to go in the Laker record books, with four top two finishes in meets this season, as well as a Mid-State Conference championship for the third year in a row.
"This is the best season I've been a part of (as a Laker coach)," Kvebak said. "It's been a great year for the boys."
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The Class 2A state meet will be held at St. Olaf College in Northfield Saturday, Nov. 5.
Laker results
Section 8-2A meet in Rocori Thursday, Oct. 27.
Boys team results -- Moorhead 52, Willmar 87, Sartell 107, Bemidji 114, Monticello 136, Alexandria 146, Fergus Falls 202, Detroit Lakes 206, Thief River Falls 254, St. Cloud Tech 265, Little Falls 271, Brainerd 291, Rocori 293, St. Cloud Apollo 416, Sauk Rapids 462, Becker 484.
Top 10 finishers -- 1. Glen Ellingson (Mhd) 15:57.5; 2. Tyler Broadwell (Sart) 16:13.3; 3. Phillip Lavalle (Mont) 16:16.5; 4. Preston Zimny (LF) 16:17.8; 5. Sam Carlson (Bem) 16:21.0; 6. Ezra Olson (Mhd) 16:25.2; 7. Zac Bartolomeo (Alex) 16:27.6; 8. Zach Haus (FF) 16:27.9; 9. Wade Kruger (SCT) 16:28.1; 10. Will Sieling (Alex) 16:28.1.
DL results -- 30. Jason Stallman 17:29.7; 34. Patrick Bakken 17:34.0; 38. Zach Foltz 17:35.2; 42. Travis King 17:47.9; 62. Mike Okeson 18:08.9; 73. Tom Sorum 18:19.3.
