Sunday, September 27, 2026

Week of September 28

There are a few announcements in this post, so please make sure to read through all of the information.

Friday is the annual Homecoming. We run the game ball in from the opposing school and then bring the ball out to midfield before the game. In the past it was just the boys because I started the tradition and I used to just coach the boys. This year, because the team is smaller and the distance is the longest we have had to do, we decided to have the girls be a part of it as well.  We do the run as a relay, with the team divided into groups and each group running a portion of the distance (this year it will be about 5 miles a group). When it has been longer and we need to do this as a relay, I bike with them so they know where to go (I map it all out and we have a bus for the whole trip).  It is, however, not a mandatory thing and we have only had to leave school early once before, but not as early as this year. If it is something someone cannot get out of school early, that is not a problem. We send the route out to everyone, and then update it as we go along, so someone could meet up along the way or even just meet everyone at the stadium for the finish. We are hoping to be at the stadium at about 6:30, to give ourselves some extra time due to stoplights and the distance.

We will be working at a water stop for the Twin Cities Marathon on Sunday, October 4th as a fundraiser for the team.  If you would still like to help, please read through the information and go to the link below to fill out the registration form.

We’ll start sending volunteer instructions on Monday, September 28, so please ensure everyone is registered by Sunday, September 27 at the latest. If people register after Monday, we’ll send volunteer instructions on a rolling basis as soon as possible.

 

Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon Weekend Volunteer Registration Website (https://twincitiesinmotion.volunteerlocal.com/volunteer/?id=115740&job_name=fluid%20station%203%20(mile%207)&job_password=FLUID326)

 

Fluid Station 3 (Mile 7)

Date: Sunday, October 4

Time: 6:45am - 10:35am

Location: E. Lake Harriet Pkwy. near parking bays by Rose Gardens (between Roseway Rd. and 42nd St. W.)

Volunteer Details: Assist with Fluid Station setup. Service runners as a water and/or Nuun Mixer, Pourer or Holder. A select number of individuals will also assist with Pro Fluids, if applicable. Assist with Fluid Station clean up. Assist with other duties as assigned by Fluid Station captain.

 

Lastly, please have everyone include your group name, so we can keep track of who’s registered by following the steps outlined below.

 

Are volunteering with a group?
Yes, I am volunteering with a group

 

What is the group’s name?

Enter Group Name: Coon Rapids Cross Country


Lastly, below is the information for Tuesday's Norm Ayen/Cambridge Invite, at Purple Hawk Golf Course, about 4 miles north of Cambridge.

4:00 7-8/C Race Girls (2.4K)
4:25 7-8/C Race Boys (2.4K) (This may be combined with the Girls 7-8/C Race)
4:45 Girls Varsity
5:15 Boys Varsity
5:40 Girls JV
6:10 Boys JV

Live Results: live.herostiming.com

Construction: Local traffic

Hwy 65 work zone open to businesses, visitors and residents
Expect delays, reduced speeds, narrow lanes, flaggers, hard closures between side roads,
changes to access, gravel or grooved surfaces.  Shoulder or lane closures with flaggers and off-road work to occur during the full duration of this project

Cambridge Invitational: Purple Hawk Country Club: 36300 Highway 65 NE, Cambridge, 55008. Take Hwy 65 North to Cambridge.  Continue on Hwy 65 about 4 miles north of Cambridge to Purple Hawk, which will be on the left side of the highway.

Cambridge Invite @ Purple Hawk GC, September 29, 2026
GirlsBoys
VarsityVarsity
Mackenzie ReilandJohn Vandagriff
Faith KueTate Burnett
Ruby DemmerNixon Glenn
Alexa SabatkeCullen Jayasekera
Emmy FullerTruman Smith
Vince Congdon
JV
Genavive KostuckJV
Ellie SadlerMohamed Mustafa
Ben Moline
Middle School (2.4K)Kaiden Castillo
Ruth HuttonXavier Pantoja
Zoe FelllerMax Kirkpatrick
Vera LeeWill Gable
Leah KirkpatrickYoltzin-Micael Rincon
Alvin Nguyen
Avalyn Nagan
Blake Zaviska
Middle School (2.4K)
Mason Pflugshaupt
Brecken Jayasekera

Sunday, September 20, 2026

Week in Review/Week Ahead

Lower temps, a little bit of wet ground, led to a positive week for the Cardinal Runners!  Everyone that was able to run on Thursday had at least a Season Best time on what turned out to be almost ideal conditions.  Then, a lot of rain hit before Saturday's races for the Varsity, and cooler temps, but we still had 9 All Time Personal Records (PR's) and 5 more Season Bests (would've been all of them had it not been for a muddy section on a slant).  Congrats to all of the runners on the work they put in this past week and their efforts in their races, but a big shout out to Mason (5th), Brecken (7th) and Ruth (9th) for finishing in the top 10 in the Middle School Race on Thursday, and to Ruby who finished a solid 3rd place overall in the Maroon Division of the Roy Griak on Saturday.  Ruby had a great race plan and ran a smart race, moving up throughout the race and even passing two girls in the last 200m to reach the 3rd overall place and to run her 2nd fastest time!! It was a fun couple of days of racing and one we hope to build off of as we move through the season.  All results from Thursday's St Francis Invite for the JV and Middle School runners, as well as the Varsity at the 40th annual Roy Griak Invite are now posted on our blog.

We will be going to the Wildcat Invite at Crown College on Thursday.  There is a link to the information that Waconia has sent to us, but there are also directions as well as who will be running in which race.  

The bus will be leaving at 2:00 Thursday.  The meet will get done earlier than when we were at Gail Woods 2 weeks ago, so it should not be as late of a night, plus there will only be 6 teams.  However, if you need to bring your runner home after their race, please let me know in advance.

4:00pm Middle School Race* 2mi (Boys & Girls Combined) 
4:30pm Jr. Varsity Boys 5K
5:00pm Jr. Varsity Girls 5K
5:30pm Varsity Boys 5K  (up to 7 athletes)
6:00pm Varsity Girls 5K (up to 7 athletes)
*2 mile “Middle School” Co-ed race

Meet Information:

Directions:
Waconia Invitational: Crown College, 8700 College View Dr, Saint Bonifacius, 55375.  Highway 10 east to Hwy 610 and continue to Hwy 169 South.  Take 169 South to I94 West and follow to I494 South.  Follow on I494 to MN Hwy 7 West and continue to Saint Bonifacius.  Take a left onto Main St (CR 92) and continue for about 1.1 miles to the college entrance and take a left on to College View Dr.

Wildcat Invite @ Crown College, September 24, 2026
GirlsBoys
VarsityVarsity
Ruby DemmerNixon Glenn
Mackenzie ReilandJohn Vandagriff
Faith KueJosey Jacobs
Alexa SabatkeTate Burnett
Emmy FullerCullen Jayasekera
Truman Smith
JVVince Congdon
Genavive Kostuck
Ellie SadlerJV
Ben Moline
Middle School (2 Miles)Kaiden Castillo
Ruth HuttonMohamed Mustafa
Zoe FelllerXavier Pantoja
Vera LeeEli Post
Leah KirkpatrickMax Kirkpatrick
Zach Reiland
Will Gable
Yoltzin-Micael Rincon
Avalyn Nagan
Alvin Nguyen
Middle School (2 Miles)
Mason Pflugshaupt
Brecken Jayasekera
Blake Zaviska

Any questions, let me know,
Thanks,
Denny