Decorah Boys Cross Country Dominates in Season Opener

Be the reason your community stays informed—give to local journalism now! WAVERLY, Iowa — The Decorah boys cross country team set a strong tone for the season on Monday, claiming six of the top seven individual spots in the high school boys' 5,000-meter race. Although no official team scores were recorded, the Vikings left little doubt about their presence on the route. Senior Garrett See led the way, capturing first place in 16:48.0. Fellow senior Mitchell Stemper wasn't far behind, earning runner-up honors in 17:12.5. Waverly-Shell Rock's Matthew Hommowun watered down the pack in third, but Decorah quickly responded. Junior Clarence Nimrod clocked a personal-best 17:25.3 for fourth, while sophomores Oak Pasche (17:33.1) and Derek Hrdlicka (17:34.6, PR) grabbed fifth and sixth. Sophomore Bennett Coppola rounded out the Vikings' top seven with a 17:52.2 finish. Senior Spencer Christiansen (10th, 18:12.1) and senior Max Grimstad (12th, 18:29.6) also placed inside the top dozen, highlighting Decorah's dominance at the front of the race. Even beyond the scoring positions, the Vikings' depth showed. More than a dozen runners set personal records, including underclassmen making strong varsity debuts such as freshman Leonard Nimrod (19:05.9) and freshman Lucas Fankhauser (19:17.4). Coach Brad Johansen praised his team's performance. "A good first step to reaching our end goals. I am very happy with our efforts," Johansen said. With such a strong start to the season, Decorah's next goal may be to carry their momentum into the heart of the season. Full schedule and more information about the team can be found here. Don't miss out on important updates! Subscribe to the newsletter for free and stay informed about local topics that matter most to you.