Spuds XC Newsletter #5

Moorhead Spuds

Cross Country

Issue #5 · Fall 2026

Spuds XC Newsletter - Fall 2026

Three Titles
At Home.

The Spuds hosted All City at Bluestem and won three of the four divisions, with the middle school girls runners up.

From the Coaching Staff

Coach's Comments

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We were proud to host another home meet on Monday. This is the most meets we have hosted in one year since 2005, and we are set to double that total in the next month! Thanks to all of the workers and fans that made it a great day!

After celebrating a great day of XC on Monday, the rest of the week has been filled with homecoming activities at Moorhead High. Balancing these activities with the demands of XC training is a challenge, but it is a blessing to have so many opportunities this week. Staying committed to the little things will help us stay on track for our end of season goals while also enjoying a great week to be a Spud!

The Spuds cross country float at the Moorhead homecoming parade, with a Join MHD XC sign on the truck

The Spuds at the homecoming parade. Thanks to the Clark family for coordinating the float.

Oct 5 · All City · Bluestem Center for the Arts

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JV Boys

1st

JV Girls

1st

MS Boys

1st

MS Girls

2nd

The Moorhead Spuds hosted the All City Meet at the Bluestem Center for the Arts on Monday, October 5. The Spuds captured team titles in three of the four divisions, with the JV boys, JV girls and middle school boys taking first, while the middle school girls finished as team runners up. It was also great to see many young Spuds compete in the elementary mile race. Full results are available here.

In the boys junior varsity 3K, Moorhead dominated the leaderboard by taking the first seven scoring positions. Freshman Spencer Polomny led the field, crossing the line first with a time of 10:13.9. Junior Evan Miller took second in 10:24.7, followed by freshman Donnie Copeland in third at 10:30.5, sophomore RJ Loor in fourth at 10:33.0, senior Sahan Nagodavithana in fifth at 10:40.4, freshman Gabe Cragg in sixth at 10:43.3, and junior Andrew Jaeger in seventh at 10:47.0.

The girls junior varsity 3K saw more great performances as Moorhead swept the top three overall finishes. Senior Elsa Pennington captured the victory in 12:32.5, closely followed by fellow senior Isabelle Thibert as the runner up in 12:33.2. Sophomore Bella Zuehlsdorff took third in 13:04.4, with sophomore Abigail Garcia-Garcia placing fifth at 13:13.1, freshman Sophia Petik taking sixth at 13:18.5, junior Ella Evenson claiming seventh at 13:23.7, and freshman MaKenna Fowler rounding out the top pack in eighth at 13:23.8.

In the middle school boys 3K, the team win was spearheaded by four runners placing among the top seven team finishers. Seventh grader Jack Fay led the effort with a second place overall finish in 10:47.5. Eighth grader Will Benson crossed in fourth at 11:05.0, eighth grader Andrew Clark earned fifth at 11:13.8, and seventh grader Toren Rinehardt grabbed seventh at 11:21.5. Aiden Mullen placed 11th at 11:28.8, Derek Sly placed 13th at 11:39.0, and Caden Kloeckner placed 15th at 11:41.8 to complete the top seven.

The middle school girls 3K was highlighted by a dominant one two individual finish at the front. Eighth grader Addyson Thiel captured the win in 11:40.6, while eighth grader Amelia Thiel took second right behind her in 11:52.6. Eighth grader Asha Olson joined them in the front pack with a sixth place finish in 12:08.4. Ever Osvold added an 18th place effort at 12:50.3, Addison Milner finished 22nd at 13:11.7, Sophia Andrade finished 23rd at 13:13.0, and Sophie Sjolander finished 25th at 13:18.2.

Watch

All City Recap

The Spuds will race next at the Perham Invite on October 13.

Around the team

The Amazing Pace

The Amazing Pace is an annual contest with the Justin Gall Cup on the line, and as of this year there are two of them, after one went missing last season.

The Grouch Potatoes took it. The Negative Split Personalities and the Two Mile Terrors tied for the middle school title, so it turns out we needed three Justin Gall Cups.

Four Moorhead high school runners standing on the grass with the Amazing Pace trophy

The Grouch Potatoes.

Four Moorhead middle school runners standing on the grass with the tall Amazing Pace trophy

The middle school winners, tied.

Eight minutes and change. A marathon, and still shorter than the girls group jogging a mile around the track.

Cory's Corner

Press play.

Core Values

Spud Shoutouts

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All City

Runner of the Meet

Opportunity

Elsa Pennington

Senior

Elsa has embraced opportunity, earning a JV race win on Monday that results from stacking great days and having great habits. She is a great example to others, demonstrating diligence and consistency.

Athlete photo: RWP

Around the team

Teacher of the Year

Dan Dooher answers to a lot of names. Danny Doo. The Book Shepherd. Mr. Librarian. Great Grandson of Gustav. Here is one more for the list: Moorhead Schools Teacher of the Year.

Way to go, Coach Dooher.

Dan Dooher riding in a red convertible in the homecoming parade behind a Teacher of the Year placard

Riding the parade route as Teacher of the Year.

Class of 2026

Senior Features

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In their own words. Right click or press and hold to save either card.

Senior feature: Lauren Rust, three years in the program, favorite course Bemidji.

Senior feature: Caroline Pederson, three years in the program, favorite course Border Battle in Grand Forks.

Once a Spud

Spuds Alumni

Spud alums continue tearing it up at the college level. On Saturday, October 3, Henry Theye (’26) and his Concordia teammates placed 14th at the Running of the Cows in Northfield, Minnesota. This high powered meet was held on the same course that will host the NCAA Division III National Meet in November.

On Saturday, October 10, Lauren Heneman (’25) placed third individually at the Luther Legends Invite in Decorah, Iowa. Lauren helped the St. Thomas women claim the team title at that meet.

On the same day, Ella Cole (’23) and Eli Schlichting (’26) competed at the Lewis Crossover in Romeoville, Illinois. Ella and the UMD women placed 14th, while Eli and the UMD men placed 23rd in one of the top regular season meets in NCAA Division II.

Coming Up

Week Ahead

The Spuds travel to Arvig Park for the Perham Invite on Tuesday, October 13. Junior high at 4:15 and 4:35, then the five thousands at 4:55 and 5:30.

Tue, Oct 13

Perham Invite
MHS Varsity/JV, Horizon 7-8, Horizon 5-6 Club

Arvig Park · Perham, MN

Week Ahead: Perham Invite, Tuesday October 13, Arvig Park. Junior high girls 3200m at 4:15, junior high boys 4:35, JV and varsity girls 5000m at 4:55, JV and varsity boys at 5:30.

Around the team

Homecoming Parade

The back of the Spuds cross country float, with a hand painted Cross Country banner and a Join MHD XC sign

The float from behind, with a standing invitation attached.

Two Moorhead runners holding a hand lettered We Love XC, Run Spuds Run sign

Signs made for the occasion.

Moorhead cross country runners gathered on the float in orange and black with balloons

The team aboard before the route.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Their support puts Spuds on the course.

Sponsor Spuds XC

Spuds Cross Country is looking for community business sponsorships.

Spud Sponsor

$500

Spud Partner

$250

Spud Supporter

$100

Every sponsor receives:

Your logo in every newsletter, going out to team families and alumni, linked to your website.
A picture of the team to display at your business.
A handwritten thank you from the XC captains.