Boys X-Country: Hyytinen 4th at Dakota Classic

Justin Hyytinen 4th at Dakota County Classic

Sophomore Justin Hyytinen celebrated his cross country debut with a fourth place finish and freshman Alex Hart earned a medal by placing 15th overall to help the Tigers to fifth place in the annual Dakota County Classic held Friday at Eagan.

The 3200-meter race featured seven teams led by meet champion Apple Valley who finished with 60 points, six fewer than runner-up New Prague. Eagan and Lakeville North tied at 97, followed by Farmington 108, Hastings 120 and Richfield 160.

Hyytinen toured the 3200-meter course in 10:41 to earn his fourth place medal; Hart clocked 11:20.2.

Alex Hart (left) and Adam Wallenta keep up the pace

 Two other Farmington runners cracked the top 30 with seniors Adam Wallenta (11:25.9) and Tyler Lerbakken (11.37.9) placing 22nd and 27th respectively.

Senior Clayton Webb (40th; 12:13), senior Caleb Eiffert (42nd; 12:15.9) and junior Santana Perdome (48th; 12:32.5) rounded out the Tiger lineup.

Second-year coach Lisa Lippold said she was satisfied with her team's first-meet effort.

"Justin had a great first race and we had four runners in the top 27," she said. "Last year our point total here was 166. Today it was 108 and we were only 11 points out of third place. We were right there without having all of our regular lineup."

Junior Dan Block, an all-Missota Conference honorable mention performer last year, did not run in the race but is expected back for next week's meet, Friday's Faribault Invitational at Alexander Park.