Cyclone Cross Country Camp draws 33 runners

 HARLAN (Aug. 13) -- The annual Harlan Community Cross Country Camp is being held Wednesday-Friday this week for grades 9-12.
 The Cyclones will have their first official practice on Monday and will open the season on Tuesday, August 25, at the Shenandoah Early Bird Invite.
 Approximately 33 HCHS harriers registered for this year’s camp, which was pushed back about a week and shortened to three days from the usual five.
 The HCHS runners observed social distancing and separated into small groups of 6-8 during Wednesday’s camp session, which focused on sprint work in periodic 70-yard bursts. The Cyclones planned to have a distance workout Thursday before holding their annual camp race at Prairie Rose State Park on Friday.
 Both HCHS squads have high goals for the upcoming season.
 The girls return five runners that were an integral part of last year’s fourth-place team finish at the Class 3A state meet as well as eight team titles throughout the year. All five placed in the top 20 of the Hawkeye Ten Conference Meet, led by Kaia Bieker in third. Also back for the girls are seniors Liv Freund, Brecken Van Baale, Abi Albertsen and Olivia Anderson.
 The Cyclone boys are led by senior Trey Gross, who peaked at the right time in 2019 and placed seventh at the Class 3A state meet to become the highest state medalist in the history of the boys program. Additional varsity letter winners back from last year’s Hawkeye Ten runner-up include seniors Brennon Munch, Mitchell Rueschenberg and Reed Boardman as well as sophomore Kaiden Milliken.