Airports only wish they could function like the start of a cross country meet. The announcer's been counting down for the last fifteen minutes and at "zero" the race starts with or without all the passengers. Ranked first in the State, the Darlington Redbirds look to dominate before the smoke from the starting pistol blows away. They fly in front of the 122 guys, with Wauzeka-Steuben and Marshall and Boscobel and Fennimore mixed in. It's tough to find our New Glarus-Monticello boys as even our fastest, Conor McCoy, flutters along deep in the flock. Four hundred meters pass as the group banks around a big circle and heads down the hill. Conor's moved up but the rest of the young team looks lost among the many older and more experienced runners. It's a bit disheartening for our fans to watch us trail the favored teams. These "jets" plan on flying in the front echelon until they land at the goal line 3.1 miles later. We try not to race in this fashion. We attempt to hold an even ground speed for the entire journey. By mile one, pilots no longer fly wingtip to wingtip but are visibly spread out on the horizon. The astute "skywatcher" brings to notice something happening; a few of the fastest sputter and misfire. By mile two, smoke trails from the exhaust pipes of engines pushed past their redline. NGM'ers overtake faltering competitors. Conor McCoy travels up front and, with 600 meters to go, looks in position to qualify as an individual to the State Meet. A large hill looms one third of a mile from the finish line. Powering to a higher altitude further taxes faltering leg pistons. Spectators vector to the landing zone to witness the order of finish of different squadrons. Conor McCoy (18:12) swoops through in 6th. A minute passes before Adam Nelson (19:09) places 13th. Now the heart of our "wing," Rudy Wicker (19:53), Joe Quaglia (19:59), Ty Ready (20:06) and Garrett Grossen (20:24), draft each other as they cross the white line. Robert Burt (21:26) glides over as rear wingman.

Unlike the airline industry, the announcer lists the last arrivals first. When you wonder how your team finished, it seems longer to read the list than pick-up luggage after a transcontinental flight. Finally he announces "in fourth place Boscobel 161, third place Marshall 155, in second and qualifying for the State Meet at Wisconsin Rapids with 129...New Glarus-Monticello." Wow, we barely hear him continue with "Darlington in first." We look shocked and jet-lagged as we scramble up to accept the Sectional Runner-Up trophy.

Sue Moen

The Cross Country New Glarus-Monticello Division 3 Boys Sectional Runner-Ups.  They run at the WIAA State Meet in Wisconsin Rapids at 2:35 p.m., on Saturday. L to R: Robert Burt, Rudy Wicker, Adam Nelson, Conor McCoy, Ty Ready, Dane Duerst, Garrett Grossen.  Not present: Joe Quaglia, Kellan Zweifel, Simon Blohowiak.

The NGM'ers take-off at Wisconsin Rapids at 1435 hours (2:35 PM) this Saturday as the youngest boys team at the WIAA State Meet.

Earlier in the day, the NGM girls faced our Belleville neighbors for the last time this year. Gabby Whisler (23:55), Molly Molencamp (24:41) and Walela Three-Sticks (24:45) finished ahead of Kalin, but then the rest of the Wildcat team works their way in front of our Libbie Melvin (29:03), Emily Streiff (29:05), Dylan Noll (29:09) and Brooke Dreyfus (33:19). Final score NGM 264 in 8th place, with B'ville 265 in 9th. Good thing our season is over, one point differential is too close!