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LUVERNE -- The Canby-Minneota cross country teams wrapped up their season at the Section 3A meet in Luverne, with the girls placing fourth and Mya Pesek qualifying for her fifth consecutive state meet.
The girls finished fourth out of 22 teams, with Pesek leading the way in seventh place with a time of 20 minutes, 27 seconds. The accomplishment marks her fifth straight trip to the state meet.
Taylor Ourada was next for Canby-Minneota, finishing 14th in 20:54. Ourada put together a season-best performance and came close to qualifying for state. Adri Christianson placed 21st in 21:39, followed by Cayleigh Bordewyk in 34th (22:09) and Finley Van Overbeke in 36th (22:13).
Jonna Briggs finished 48th in 23:00, while Anna Briggs placed 67th in 23:34.
Bordewyk and Van Overbeke both recorded personal-best times, while Christianson ran one of her strongest races of the season. Jonna Briggs also closed out an impressive high school cross country career with a strong performance.
The Canby-Minneota boys placed seventh out of 22 teams. Tallen Merritt led the boys with a 19th-place finish in 17:58, earning a top-20 section finish for the first time in his career.
Seth Paluch placed 30th in 18:27, followed by Kendon Knutson in 34th (18:39). Jaxon Ruether recorded a personal best while finishing 43rd in 19:06. Tate Frazeur placed 50th in 19:22, and Henry Vidoloff finished 53rd in 19:33.
The coaching staff was proud of the team’s effort and improvement throughout the meet, with multiple season-best performances and personal records.
"This group showed up, competed, supported one another, and left it all out on the course," the coach said. "That is what it is all about!"
The team also compared its times at the Luverne course to last season, noting that every runner was faster than when Canby-Minneota competed there in 2025.
While the team season has come to a close, Pesek will represent Canby-Minneota at the Class A State Meet Saturday, Nov. 7. The girls race is scheduled for 12:15 p.m.
The team will celebrate its season at its cross country banquet Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. in the Canby High School cafeteria. All team members and families are invited.