Friesen finishes 42nd at State Cross Country

News Release
LoW Schools

Saturday, November 4, 2006 @ St. Olaf College, Northfield
Varsity Girls (4000 meters)
Madie Heinrich, 109th, 16:46
151 Runners

Varsity Boys (5000 meters)
Andrew Friesen, 42nd, 17:08 (Season PR)
158 Total Runners

Coaches Comments & Quotes
Junior Canadian Andrew Friesen kicked off a successful day for Lake of the Woods - Rainy River athletes at the Minnesota State Cross Country meet Nov. 4 in Northfield. In his third trip to State, Friesen finished with his fastest time of the season (17:08) and placed 42nd of 158 runners in the Boys Class A event. His race was 14 seconds faster than his 2005 state appearance, and just two seconds off his all-time 5000-meter record.
Andrew’s state experience pushed him from placing in the mid-60s in 2004 to the low 40s this year, and his time has come down 27 seconds. Although disappointed in not ending his year with a personal record, a season-best in the last race of the year is certainly something to be proud of.
Andrew is year-around runner and athlete and a confident leader. I look forward to seeing what he can do in his final year with us.
Senior Madie Heinrich shined in her first and only race on the 4000-meter state cross country course, placing 109th of 151 runners in the Girls Class A race. Her time of 16:46 was well off her personal record of 16:01, but she gave it everything she had despite training and racing with a serious head cold most of the week.
Madie has been eying the state meet since Shantelle made it there in 2001, when Madie was only a 7th grader. From the road trip to the banquet to the hundreds of running fans cheering on the course, she took the experience for everything it could be and came away a stronger runner and person because of it.