BLUE EARTH – The United South Central cross country teams took different paths to the same destination.

Sunday, October 28, 2001

BLUE EARTH – The United South Central cross country teams took different paths to the same destination.

The boys did what was expected. The girls surprised some people. Both are going to state.

The USC boys won the Section 2A championship while the girls were second Friday at Riverside Country Club north of Blue Earth.

The biggest surprise was Jamie Klein, the Rebels’ eighth-grader who won the girls’ race in 15:38.

&uot;We figured maybe she’d be sixth or so,&uot; said coach Kent Viesselman. &uot;But she really ran a race.&uot;

Other places and times for the USC girls: Sara Bias, third, 15:44; Michelle Sonnek, 13th, 16:41; Lindsey Rauenhorst, 19th, 16:52; Amelia Treptow, 25th, 17:30; Kirsten Langsev, 28th, 17:42; Angie Stenzel, 38th, 18:06.

Blue Earth Area won the girls’ meet with 45 points. The Rebels and Montgomery-Lonsdale had 61, which meant the title was decided by the teams’ No. 6 runners.

It will be the fourth trip to state for the USC girls.

The section title was the eighth consecutive for the boys, who reached state for the ninth year in a row.

Places and times Friday: Justin Youngblom, third, 17:14; Eric Langsev, seventh, 17:37; Casey Christenson, 10th, 17:49; Trevor Rollenhagen, 15th, 18:04; Chris Vondracek, 23rd, 18:31; Jake Stenzel, 26th, 18:34.

&uot;Both the boys and the girls put in a lot of miles during the summer,&uot; said Viesselman. &uot;They deserve every good thing that happens to them.&uot;