"Mega Matt" wins at Milaca

MILACA - Matt Lundstrom continued his attack at cross country meet victories with one of the biggest wins in Laker XC history taking first place in the 3A Milaca Mega Meet race Saturday.

“As far as an individual performance was concerned Matt's run was really impressive,” said Head Coach Bill Kvebak. “The only individual performances comparable to Matt's would be Hanna Grinaker, who was a two-time winner for us in 2004 and 2005 at the Milaca Mega Meet.”

Lundstrom recorded the fastest time in Class 3A and across all classes making him the top runner of 177 runners in 3A and 769 runners combined in all four classes. From grades 7-12, there were 2,700 runners. Lundstrom’s time beat them all.

The finish has earned Lundstrom the nickname “Mega Matt” from his teammates.

Lundstrom’s winning time was 15:56.9. The 4A winner Kevin Dado of Totino-Grace ran 16:09.7; 2A winner and training partner of Lundstrom Isaac Overmyer from Park Rapids ran 16:14.5. Connor Schank of Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted won the 1A race in 16:22.

The Laker boys placed fourth, which was the best DL finish since 2010, when the Lakers won the meet.

“We had a few PR's on the course this week. Getting Aaron Johnson back was important and Connor Haugrud had a big race for us. I love this group of runners they really are getting after it day in and day out. It has been fun watching them keep getting better,” said Kvebak.

New Prague won the 3A team race with 131 points, followed by Chisago Lakes 194, Chaska 198 and the Lakers with 204.

Lundstrom’s mark puts his chase for a top 25 spot at the state meet in November a thing of the past. His finish at the Mega Meet makes him one of the favorites for the state title.

Matt finished 27th last year at St. Olaf.

The Laker girls placed 19th led by sophomore Mckenzie Ostlie in a time of 17:12 (81st place). Junior Haley Groth was six places back in 87th with a time of 17:17. Sophomore Heather Kunkle placed 93rd in 17:31.8.

Sarah Schumacher, one of the Laker leaders, did not race at Milaca.

Chaska won the meet with 83 points. The Lakers scored 493 and defeated eight other teams.

The XC teams are back in action Thursday at Fergus Falls.

Milaca Mega meet – 3A Boys results

1. New Prague 131; 2. Chisago Lakes Area 194; 3. Chaska 198; 4. Detroit Lakes 204 ; 5. Cloquet 212; 6. St Anthony Village 216; 7. Mound Westonka 218; 8. River Falls  221; 9. New Richmond 230; 10. Grand Forks RR 235; 11. Delano 255; 12. Orono 260; 13. Grand Forks Central 286; 14. Benilde-St Margs 337; 15. Big Lake 340; 16. Austin 346; 17. Sheyenne 423; 18. Sartell-St Stephen 441; 19. Zumbrota-Mazeppa/K-W 468; 20. Spring Lake Park 479; 21. North Branch 561; 22. Academy of Holy Angels 566; 23. Fergus Falls 646; 24. Fridley 658.

4. Detroit Lakes

1  Matthew Lundstrom, 12, 15:56.9
23  Aaron Johnson, 10, 17:38.1
52  Connor Haugrud, 10, 18:17.5
57  Austin Gedrose, 9, 18:20.4
71  Zach Buboltz, 10, 18:33.9
91  Jace Engelstad, 10, 18:56.1
130  Van Frisch-Gallatun, 9, 19:56.1

Total Time = 1:28:46.8
Total Places = 204

Boys top 10:

1. Matthew Lundstrom, 12; 15:56.9 Detroit Lakes
2. Adam Armbruster, 12; 15:58.9 Delano           
3. Nathaniel Souther, 12; 16:22.9 Big Lake         
4. Isaac Boedigheimer, 10; 16:32.6 Cloquet          
5. Leif Larsen, 11; 16:34.0 Grand Forks Central
6. Cory Rouw, 12; 16:39.9 St Cloud Tech    
7. Nick Lawson, 12; 16:44.0 St Anthony Village  
8. Spencer Urick, 11; 16:53.1 Chaska           
9. David Hettich, 11; 16:54.3  Grand Forks Central
10. Zac Miller, 10;  16:59.1 Chaska           

Milaca Mega meet – 3A Girls results
1. Chaska  83; 2. Austin 105; 3. Grand Forks Central 109; 4. Sheyenne 173; 5. Monticello 184; 6. Sartell-St Stephen  191; 7. Benilde-St Margaret's 212; 8. New Richmond 284; 9. Visitation 302; 10. Orono 315; 11. Hutchinson 332; 12. New Prague 347; 13. Hibbing 378; 14. Zimmerman 403; 15. Delano 411; 16. St Anthony Village 420; 17. Spring Lake Park 463; 18. Big Lake 480; 19. Detroit Lakes 493; 20. Chisago Lakes Area  494; 21. Fergus Falls  518; 22. Cloquet 556; 23. Zumbrota-Mazeppa/K-W  564; 24. Princeton 590; 25. Mound Westonka 626; 26. St Cloud Apollo 694; 27. Academy of Holy Angels 730.

19. Detroit Lakes

81  Mckenzie Ostlie, 10, 17:12.0
87  Haley Groth, 11, 17:17.0
93  Heather Kunkle, 10, 17:31.8
102  Kendra Kvebak, 10, 17:47.9
130  Elizabeth Kvebak, 10, 18:16.4
132  Ellen Tieken, 10, 18:18.1

Total Time = 1:28:05.1
Total Places = 493

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