Heren captures Invite title at Mont du Lac

Esko senior skier Thomas Heren captured first place Monday at the Mont du Lac Invitational. Heren, who posted the two fastest times in both heats, bested Duluth East's Bren Elleson.

Heren's first run saw him post a time of 29.99, almost a second faster than Elleson. Heren went even faster on his second run, finishing in 28.94, almost two full seconds faster than Elleson.

Heren's two runs, with an overall time of 59.83, was enough to take the first. Elleson finished with an overall time of 1:01.43, while Hermantown's Thomas Borash was third with an overall time of 1:02.12.

Colter Hendrickson was the next-best finisher for Cloquet-Esko-Carlton boys, taking 12th place, followed by Jonah Laundergenin 20th, Jack McWilliams in 29th, Morgan Grove at 35th and Ethan Butcher in 37th.

Hermantown's Ashley Winberg and her sister, Kendra, finished first and second in the girls race, while Katie Thicken of Duluth Marshall took third overall. The top finisher on the Lumberjacks girls team was Madysen Waters in 15th place, followed by Abby Blazevic in 24th, Elle Regas in 28th, Halle Zuck in 29th, Alexys Serafin in 30th, Claire Anderson in 35th and Maddie Dostal in 41st.

GIRLS' TEAM RESULTS:

1, Hermantown, 170; 2, Hibbing, 157; 3, Duluth East, 150; 4, VAAST, 146; 5, Cloquet-Esko-Carlton, 104; 6, Marshall, 84; 7, Denfeld, 56.

BOYS' TEAM RESULTS:

1, Duluth East, 180; 2, Hibbing, 142; 3, Cloquet-Esko-Carlton, 138; 4, VAAST, 136; 5, Hermantown, 128; 6, Marshall, 90.