Kasson-Mantorville’s David Obst Achieves All-State Honors in Cross Country

Kasson-Mantorville High School senior David Obst concluded his impressive cross country career with a remarkable fourth-place finish at the MSHSL Class 2A Boys Cross Country State Championships held on November 4, 2023, at Les Bolstad Golf Course in St. Paul. This achievement marks his fifth appearance at the state meet, where he recorded a personal-best time of 15 minutes, 39.6 seconds.

Obst’s performance at this year’s championship was particularly notable as it represented his third consecutive top-eight finish at the state level. He demonstrated his competitive spirit by leading the pack after the first mile and maintaining a position among the frontrunners as the race progressed. However, by the second mile, Charlie Loth, a junior from St. Paul Como Park, and Gabe Hallen, a senior from Orono, began to pull ahead. Loth ultimately secured the title with a personal-best time of 15:31.1, while Hallen followed closely behind.

The team competition saw St. Paul Como, ranked fifth, clinch its first state championship with a total of 75 points. In contrast, the Winona Winhawks finished seventh as a team, accumulating 216 points, with junior Kedrick Boucek finishing fifth individually in 15:42.2.

The results extended beyond the top contenders. Junior Caleb Kevan from Zumbrota-Mazeppa/Kenyon-Wanamingo placed 35th with a time of 16:24.6, while Nolan Schatz, a sophomore from Stewartville, followed in 42nd place with a personal record of 16:27.9. Other notable finishes included Talon Schutz from Pine Island, who placed 77th in 16:57.1, and Owen Runquist, a senior from Red Wing, who finished 86th in 17:08.6.

Red Wing’s Nora Hanson Concludes Career with All-State Recognition

On the girls’ side, Nora Hanson, a senior from Red Wing, also wrapped up her high school career at the state championships, finishing 38th with a time of 19:32.5 in her fifth and final appearance. Hanson’s achievements include being a two-time All-State recipient, with the top 25 individuals earning this honor.

The top finish for Southeast Minnesota in the girls’ Class 2A race came from freshman Isabelle Katwa of Winona, who placed 35th with a time of 19:29.8, contributing to her team’s sixth-place finish overall with 193 points. The championship was claimed by Minneapolis Southwest, which won its first state title, scoring 38 points in its first state meet since 2003. Section 1 champion Northfield secured third place with 110 points, led by Makayah Petricka, who achieved an eighth-place finish.

In the girls’ individual rankings, Keira Friedrich, a senior from St. Peter, captured the individual title with an impressive time of 18:03, finishing nearly 20 seconds ahead of the second-place competitor.

The MSHSL Class 2A Championships showcased the talent and dedication of high school athletes, with both individuals and teams striving for excellence in a competitive atmosphere.