Waldorf’s Men’s Cross Country team races in third annual Twilight Hokum Karem

Waldorf XC Men’s team. Photo by Karissa Vetsch

By Karissa Vetsch

The third annual Twilight Hokum Karem was held Sept. 4, 2015 at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wisconsin. This collegiate cross country race is unlike any other because it is ran as a relay. Each person from each individual school’s team has a partner. One partner runs the one mile course then slaps hands with their partner for their partner to run the same course. Both partners run the one mile course a total of four times each. The course was located at “The Field for Kids” soccer complex where the course was surrounded by beautiful bluffs.

The Warrior’s Men’s Cross Country team had five pairs participate in the race and received fourth place behind Martin Luther College, Viterbo University and Jamestown. Two pairs from Waldorf College were in the top ten to finish and received t-shirts as their prize.

The two pairs consisted of Luis Ramirez-Paez a freshmen from San Antonia, Texas and his partner Aaron Ward a junior from State Center, Iowa. Ward previously attended Southwestern Community College. The second duo from Waldorf College to be in the top ten was Nathan Meiners, a junior from Omaha, Nebraska who previously attended Iowa Central Community College and his partner Mark Ahlers, a freshmen from Sheldon, Iowa. The third best duo for Waldorf was Adam Brinkman and Cody Clark.

The Cross Country and Track and Field Head Coach, Kelsey Riggins said, “The Hokum Karem Twilight Meet was a great experience for our Men’s XC Team. Not only was it a fun racing environment but also a great team building activity. Early in the season, for any team, it is important to build relationships and friendships between teammates. The Hokum Karem Relay puts the athletes in groups of two, removing the individual aspect of cross country and having the focus be on the pair or on your teams performance.”

With having a successful second meet the Warrior’s Men’s Cross Country team is getting ready for their next meet to come, Herb Blakely Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015 in South Dakota.