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CALMAR, Iowa — The Decorah boys and girls cross country team delivered an impressive performance at the South Winneshiek Invitational on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, at the South Winn. Golf & Country Club. With a strong team effort, the Viking boys claimed first place with an impressive score of 18 points. Leading the pack for the boys 5k was Grant Zilka, who finished first overall with a time of 15:59.6, followed closely by teammate Davis Coppola, who secured second place with a time of 16:23.8. The team continued to dominate with Garrett See in fourth place at 16:37.2, Landyn Hook in fifth at 16:39.1, and Mitchell Stemper in sixth at 16:40.8. Other notable finishes included D'mitry Lesser in 11th place at 17:09.1, Oak Pasche in 12th at 17:12.0, and Max Grimstad in 13th at 17:17.1. Placements from the Decorah boys were continuous, with Viking racers finishing just seconds from the others. Individual Results for Decorah Boys: Grant Zilka — 1st place, 15:59.6 Davis Coppola — 2nd place, 16:23.8 Garrett See — 4th place, 16:37.2 Landyn Hook — 5th place, 16:39.1 Mitchell Stemper — 6th place, 16:40.8 D'mitry Lesser — 11th place, 17:09.1 Oak Pasche — 12th place, 17:12.0 Max Grimstad — 13th place, 17:17.1 Clarence Nimrod — 15th place, 17:27.8 Bennett Coppola — 16th place, 17:31.6 Spencer Christiansen — 17th place, 17:34.8 William Fullhart — 19th place, 17:39.5 Thomas Hammel — 20th place, 17:44.2 Coach Brad Johansen emphasized the significance of the team's near-perfect performance, saying, "A healthy, talented team, on a perfect night, can do great things." The Decorah girls cross country team also saw a stellar performance, with Decorah again securing first place thanks to a team score of 38 points. Leading the way for Decorah was Olivia Volkmann, who finished fourth overall with a time of 20:03.5. Following closely behind was Brinlee Courtney, who placed sixth with a time of 20:30.6. Raelyn Newhouse also had a strong showing, finishing seventh at 20:39.8. Other standout performances included Riley Christopher in 10th place at 21:03.2, Leah Garcia-Prats in 11th at 21:06.1, and Deborah Hougen in 15th at 21:19.9. Individual Results for Decorah Girls: Olivia Volkmann — 4th place, 20:03.5 Brinlee Courtney — 6th place, 20:30.6 Raelyn Newhouse — 7th place, 20:39.8 Riley Christopher — 10th place, 21:03.2 Leah Garcia-Prats — 11th place, 21:06.1 Deborah Hougen — 15th place, 21:19.9 Coach Christy Nimrod praised the team's effort, stating, "What a great night to run! The course was in great shape, and the girls took advantage of the course. We ran with great pack mentality." Looking ahead, both Decorah teams will return home on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. for the 2024 NEIC XC Meet at Luther College, where they will compete against Charles City, Crestwood, New Hampton, and Waukon. With this strong showing at the South Winneshiek Invitational, the Decorah teams are eager to maintain their momentum as the season progresses. Become a part of the exclusive circle! Subscribe to the newsletter for free and gain access to special offers, bonus content and insider perks.

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Decorah Cross Country Leaves Competition in the Dust at South Winn. Invitational