On Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022, Middleton High School’s girls’ and boys’ cross country teams set out to compete in their Big 8 Conference meet. The race was located on the hilly but scenic terrain of Lake Sheehan Park in Sun Prairie. 

Although the temperature reached the coldest it had been all season, Middleton’s cross country teams put on a very strong performance and reaped the benefits of their training. The girls secured second place in all three races (varsity, JV1 and JV2) and had many personal records (PRs) throughout the races. The boys also earned second place in every race in what seems to be an unbreakable pattern this year, taking the lead over Verona by nine points and taking second behind Madison West by just one point in the varsity race. 

“I think placing second in varsity, JV1 and JV2 is a great accomplishment,” said Alexa Richardson, head coach of the girls’ team. “I’m really happy with a lot of the PRs that came out today!”

The girls’ team had a total of seven runners advance to Sectionals on Oct. 22: Zaira Malloy-Salgado (12), Olivia Chellevold (9), Olivia Strasia (10), Lila Glinberg (12), Annie Sonju (12), Elizabeth Schwartz (12) and Emma Barnum (9). An additional seven members of the boys’ team qualified for Sectionals: Joe Schwartz (12), Will Whiteis (11), Dean Montour (12), Harper Fahey (12) Nathan Kurtz (12), Cam Swapsy (12) and Owen Winkelmann (10). 

Both teams competed at Sectionals in DeForest, Wisconsin on Saturday, Oct. 22. The Middleton girls took second to Waunakee, and the boys again came in second to Madison West. 

Both teams are slated to compete at the WIAA State Meet at Ridges Golf Course on Saturday, Oct. 29. Come and support our Middleton boys’ and girls’ cross country teams!