It's All About Number Five!

It was supposed to be a horse race, but it looked more like Donkey Kong. New Glarus-Monticello’s Pony-Knights planned to run side-by-side with the Belleville ‘cats at Tuesday’s conference meet.
In cross country, the runner’s place is their score; total of first five runners is team score. More of our NGM runners need to finish ahead of B’ville’s to win. Tyler Gilbertson-B takes off fast and wins the meet earning one point. Ninety-eight seconds later, Kyle Fredrickson-NGM places 10th, Max Cruse-NGM 12th, Justin Edge-B 14th, Christian Arnette-NGM 17th, Jordan Hosler-B 19th, Caden O’Rourke-B 24th, and Ben Jackson-NGM 28th. That’s four of them and four of us. In a dual meet, the score would be B’ville 18 and NGM 18! But, it isn’t. This is conference, with many schools, so the score stands at 58 to 67: advantage B.
We look down the course for our fifth runners. They will determine today’s outcome. IF we place our Andrew Newberry-NGM, Colin McNulty-NGM, and Cade Beutler-NGM in front of Belleville’s fifth team member, we could add nine points onto their final score and go home happy. That dream lasts only 10 heartbeats as Josh Bowers-B and Gary Salmela-B “slamela” the door in front of Newberry-NGM. Score 87 to 98, and bigger isn’t better.
The girls varsity race seems like “Deja Vu all over again.” Noelle Maire-B wins and earns one point. Gabbie Sawyer-NGM, Ashley Risley-NGM, Jane Thurow-NGM, and Kelly Fredrickson-NGM come through the chute putting New Glarus-Monticello in control. We just need our fifth runner to wrap-up the victory over the ‘cats. As if in slow motion, we witness five women Wildcats cross the line before Rebecca Barr-NGM, Walela Three-Sticks-NGM, and Gabby Whistler-NGM can finish. Score 112 to 142, and bigger isn’t better.
Saturday morning brings a new day. Well, not quite yet, as the bus rumbles down the road in total darkness. We’re headed to Fennimore for the Golden Eagle relays.
The sun will rise, we will run 14 separate races, and by noon, we will know the total time for our five fastest competitors.
Ashley, Kelly, Rebecca, Tamara Elzen, Kerry McCoy, Gabby and Jenna Molencamp place third in the small school division.
On this hilly Fennimore course, none of our boys win their individual races, but they pace well and place well in each contest.
As scores are announced, it seems they forgot us. That is until they announce, “and in first place New Glarus-Monticello.”
Kyle, Max, Christian, Andrew, Ben, Cade and Colin look stunned. Once again, the girls team knows what to do. “Go get your award!” they yell. On the way home with the trophy secured in the front seat, we double-check the scoring. NGM defeats second place Hillsboro by 65.42 seconds, or a mere 13 seconds per runner. Smaller is better.