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Huskies Gain Valuable Experience at Farmington Invite

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Wednesday, January 7th 2026 at 15:16 GMT by Southern Minn

Huskies Show Promise at Farmington MGJA Invitational, Facing Tough 1AA Competition

The Owatonna Huskies cross country team recently competed at the Farmington MGJA Invitational, a meet designed to pit them against other Class 1A schools. While not aiming for overall victory against larger classes, the Huskies used the event as a crucial opportunity to gauge their performance against direct 1A competition and refine their strategies heading into the later part of the season. The meet, held at Valleywood Golf Course, showcased both individual strengths and areas for collective improvement for the Owatonna squad.

The Huskies faced a challenging field, including several teams ranked within the top 10 in Class 1A. Despite this, Owatonna runners demonstrated resilience and competitive spirit, with several individuals achieving personal bests and contributing to a strong team showing. The article highlights the performance of several key athletes, particularly on the boys' side.

Boys' Team Performance & Standout Runners:

The Owatonna boys’ team finished 14th overall out of 24 teams. While this may not seem like a top finish, the context is vital – many competing schools were significantly larger, representing classes 2A and 3A. Focusing on the 1A schools, Owatonna was competitive, demonstrating their potential to contend for a spot at the state meet.

Leading the charge for the Huskies was junior Carter Koutsky, who finished 26th overall with a time of 16:44. This was a personal best for Koutsky, a significant achievement signaling positive momentum. He continues to be a consistent performer and a clear leader for the team.

Following closely behind was sophomore Ethan Matson, who clocked in at 17:07, also a personal best. The improvement shown by Matson is particularly encouraging as sophomores often make substantial gains throughout the season.

Other contributing runners for the boys included Brady Olson (17:46), Jamal Thompson (18:14), and Owen Fenske (18:37). The article points out the increasing depth of the team, with several runners pushing each other and closing the gap between the top scorers. This pack running is a hallmark of successful cross country programs, and the Huskies seem to be developing this strength.

Girls' Team Performance & Rising Stars:

The Owatonna girls' team placed 20th overall. Like the boys, they faced competition from larger schools, making a direct comparison of overall placement misleading. The team is currently focusing on developing individual runners and working on consistent improvement.

The standout performer for the girls was eighth-grader Lily Nielsen, who finished with a time of 19:59, setting a new personal record. Nielsen’s performance is particularly impressive given her age and indicates a bright future for the Owatonna girls’ cross country program. She is emerging as a key runner and someone to watch closely in the coming years.

Following Nielsen was seventh-grader, Grace Balsamo who finished with a time of 21:08. Balsamo's performance also shows the developing strength of the younger runners on the team, indicating a promising future.

Rounding out the scoring for the girls were Hannah Hall (21:58), Morgan Keefe (22:34), and Ella Bloom (23:12). The team is working on closing the gap between their top runners and the rest of the pack, a crucial step for improving their overall team score.

Coaching Perspective & Season Outlook:

Coach Dave Bonin expressed satisfaction with the team's effort and the individual improvements displayed at the Farmington Invite. He emphasized that the meet provided valuable insight into their competition and highlighted areas where the team needs to focus their training. Specifically, Bonin noted the importance of improving pacing and building endurance as the season progresses.

The Huskies' next major test will be the Rocori Invitational on September 16th. This event will offer another opportunity to compete against a variety of schools and further assess their progress. The team is aiming to peak at the Section 1AA meet in October, where they will battle for a coveted spot at the Minnesota State High School League Cross Country Championships.

Overall, the Farmington MGJA Invitational served as a valuable stepping stone for the Owatonna Huskies. While the competition was fierce, the team demonstrated resilience, individual improvement, and a growing sense of team unity. With a focus on pacing, endurance, and continued development of their younger runners, the Huskies appear poised to make a strong push for a state meet berth this season.