The Otter Tail Central Bulldogs showcased a stellar performance at the recent Section 6A meet, with junior Peter Newark clinching a spot at the state level with his seventh place finish. Newark completed the race in 16:43.0 in a fiercely competitive field and ensured his qualification for the Minnesota state cross country championships that will take place November 2. This will be the third straight year the Bulldogs have sent an athlete to the state meet.

The race was packed with standout performances from across the region, with Newark placing among the elite runners. Brady Rach from Bertha-Hewitt took first place with a swift 16:24.9, closely followed by Carter Kjesbo from West Central Area at 16:30.8 and Cadyn Vanderwal from Ortonville setting a personal record with a 16:31.8. Newark will head into the state meet with a top 10 time across Class A participants.

Senior Aidan Heggem crossed the finish line with a strong time of 18:06.2, placing 23rd in the field and capping off a season of steady improvements. His performance was a testament to his dedication throughout his final high school cross-country season.

Freshman Drew Robinson ran an impressive 19:35.7, placing 58th and setting himself up as a promising talent for future seasons. Additionally, junior Phoenix Allison finished in 68th place with a time of 20:03.6. Dylan Geihsler and Quinn Condiff also made significant contributions, clocking in at 20:32.9 and 20:37.9 respectively

The Lady Bulldogs showcased their determination, with standout performances from Claire Mansker, Brielle Malone, Delia Tebrugge, Quinn Hagemeister, Mae Hagemeister and Jasmine Sanmoogan.

Seventh grader Claire Mansker led the quad with a solid time of 20:59.0, placing her 18th among competitors, and top JH runner in the race. Sophomore Brielle Malone followed closely with a time of 21:26.5, placing 30th overall and Delia Tebrugge, another sophomore, crossed the finish line in 23:05.9, securing 56th place in a challenging field. Eighth-grader Quinn Hagemeister clocked in at 24:07.5. Juniors Mae Hagemeister and Jasmine Sanmoogan rounded out OTC’s efforts, recording times of 26:11.5 and 29:37.3, respectively. 

The Bulldogs look to return everyone next year and build on the success from this past season.