The Wolfpack will be running for bear this season as both the girls and boys team return a pair of all-time best performers for the Wolfpack this season.
On the boys' side, both Gavin Stauffer (eighth, 16:28) and Eli Firchau (14th, 16:38) ran their way to state and onto Park’s boys' all-time best cross country performances last season. Firchau finished 89th at the 2023 state cross country meet with a time of 16:46.0, while Stauffer was 92nd in a time of 16:46.3.
For the Park girls it’s top returner from last year, Kalin Randrup (10th, 21:56), and senior captain Hollen Thompson (14th, 22:46), both of whom are now on Park’s cross country all-time best performances list.
Brad Narveson and Jesse Nelson will again be the co-head coaches for the team this fall.
The big news on the girls team is just the increased amount of runners. The Wolfpack girls have gone from one runner two seasons ago to 13 this fall.
“I think it goes back to last year, the kids that were out that helped recruit the younger kids, just promoting the sport, getting through the school and talking to other kids,” said Narveson. “Our numbers have gone up from one girl two years ago to nine last year to 13 this year, so that’s pretty exciting. Credit to the kids on the team for spreading the word and getting the numbers up.”
Park has a lot of younger runners on the girls team so it’s a little hard to know what’s in store.
“As long as they keep working hard and they’re having fun and they compete we’ll be proud and the results will come if they’re willing to work hard and do what they can,” said Narveson.
On the boys team, Park obviously starts with Stauffer and Firchau.
“We’re just really excited, “said Nelson. “It was a lot of fun to get two kids to the state tournament last year and just the – not only for the kids running but we had a large contingent of kids over there watching them and that kind of builds the excitement around cross country and just around the team.
“From the team aspect we were seventh in the conference last year and I think that’s the best we’ve finished in over 15 years,” Nelson continued. “So on the course where the kids are getting faster and our places are improving and our times are improving, two kids to the state tournament. So it definitely was an upswing year. But I also feel like the kids know we’re not done. There’s a lot more that we can still do and still accomplish and make this year even better.”
Park’s top runners were asked what their goals for the season were and what they needed to do to achieve them:
“I’d say just to PR, the ultimate goal is to get sub 16,” said Stauffer. “I definitely need to build up my endurance again, that was a struggle a little this summer, every summer. Building my endurance and focusing on getting my sprints down and just pushing through the pain. And definitely get a good place (at sections) and obviously go to state. I’m confident that I will.”
“Mine (goals) are pretty laid back, I just want to have a really fun season,” said Thompson. “We’re really growing the girls team a lot. I just want to grow as the girls team and run good together. It would be great to PR, but if I don’t … it would be cool to get better if I can train my body to push myself more but if it doesn’t happen it doesn’t happen. I think we have a really good incoming bunch of younger girls coming in that are going to kick it really good.”
“The big goal I have is to get all state, which would be top 20,” said Firchau. “That is the main goal of the season.” Firchau would like to drop his time into the 15:50 range. “I feel confident in that goal yes. Sections I think that I have a good shot at being top five so I think I’ll shoot for that and then at state, top 20.”
Park opens the season Friday, Aug. 23, in the CDH Invite at Lake Elmo Park Reserve. The Wolfpack will then host their only home meet of the season, on Thursday, Aug. 29, at Cottage Grove Middle School/Grey Cloud Elementary School, starting at 5 p.m.
2024 Park cross country schedule
Aug. 23 Cretin-Derham Invite Lake Elmo Park Reserve 4:30 p.m.
Aug. 29 Grey Cloud Invite Cottage Grove Middle School 5 p.m.
Sept. 5 Dewey Minnaert Invite St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park 4 p.m.
Sept. 21 Osceola Invite Osceola Intermediate 10 a.m.
Sept. 27 Red Wing Invite Red Wing High School 4 p.m.
Oct. 5 Simley Invite Simley High School 9:30 a.m.
Oct. 15 SEC Championships Tanner’s Brook Golf Course 3:30 p.m.
Oct. 24 Section 3AAA Championships Valleywood Golf Course TBD
Nov. 2 State meet Les Bolstad Golf Course TBD
