LUTSEN-Alex Stone put two solid runs together to secure a first-place time of 1:35.27 and lead the Brainerd Warriors girls to second place at the Cook County Invitational at Lutsen Mountains.
The Brainerd boys, led by freshman Cal Madison, finished third. Cook County swept the event, but only clipped the Brainerd girls by one-point.
"As a team we were in first place after the first run, but we had a couple of girls who had a few slip ups and that made a difference," said Warriors head coach Jim Ruttger. "We would have easily made up that one-point differential. It was a good meet for our girls team. We are satisfied with that result. It showed our girls, and hopefully gave them confidence, that we can compete with one of the best teams in the northern part of the state."
Stone was followed by Grace McGuire in fourth, Payge Fitterer in 13th and Maddie Kalenberg in 18th place.
"Alex had two solid runs, which is redeeming for her," said Warriors head coach Jim Ruttger. "She didn't finish the last two times she's skied her. She would always have one really good run that would put her in first or second, but she couldn't get two good runs.
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"Her first run today put her solidly in front and then she just maintained that in her second run."
Madison's 12th-place time of 1:39.44 was followed by Tristan Elsenpeter in 14th place, Grant Kosobud in 16th and Nick Krantz in 17th place.
"I would say Cal was the real surprise of the day," Ruttger said. "It was his first time he's been out top finisher. He's a ninth grader so it's nice to see our younger skiers stepping up. He put some big points up there and that's encouraging."
Boys team scores: 1-Cook County 180, 2-Hermantown 161, 3-Brainerd 149, 4-Virgina 135, 5-Hibbing 97, 6-Marshall 83, 7-Duluth East 78, Cloquet-Esko-Carlton inc. Duluth Denfeld inc
Individual winner: Tyler Winberg (Hermantown) 1:28.99
Brainerd results: 12-Cal Madison 1:39.44, 14-Tristan Elsenpeter 1:40.31, 16-Grant Kosobud 1:41.00, 17-Nick Krantz 1:43.54, 24-Grant Madison 1:51.14, 26-Grant Anderson 1:53.85, 28-Matthew Sherman 1:55.78, 29-Zach Henke 2:18.51, Max Darkow DNF
Girls team scores: 1-Cook County 165, 2-Brainerd 164, 3-Hibbing 157, 4-Duluth Marshall 122, 5-Hermantown 87, 6-Virginia 75, Cloquet-Esko-Carlton, Duluth Denfeld, Duluth East inc
Individual winner: Alex Stone (Brd) 1:35.27
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Brainerd results: 4-Grace McGuire 1:41.77, 13-Payge Fitterer 1:50.15, 18-Maddie Kalenberg 1:57.31, 21-Emma Hiebert 2:02.35, 22-Allison Krantz 2:02.81, 24-Anna Krieger 2:03.91, 30-Whitney Fink 2:13.67, 39-Linsey Proctor 2:36.68, 42-Madeline Sherman 2:46.92
Next: Brainerd in MLK invite at Giants Ridge in Biwabik 9 a.m. Saturday.
