G-E-T runner wins, I/G runner takes second at C-FC meet

On a hot, muggy day that felt every bit like the height of summer, Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau’s senior standout Adrian Bautista had enough in the tank for a strong final mile to claim a win at the 2026 Jesse Brone Invite.

Bautista bided his time in third before making his move late to win the boys’ 5K race last Tuesday in Fountain City, crossing the finish line with a time of 17:51.4 to defeat Augusta’s Zale Pettis by a mere two tenths of a second.

The G-E-T boys enjoyed a stellar day overall, finishing second as a team with 78 points behind only Mondovi with 63. In addition to Bautista’s victory, the Red Hawks had Connor McDonnell (18:58.1) in 10th, Logan Tibbitts (19:52.6) in 18th, AJ Earney (19:56.5) in 21st and Cavin Spitzmacher (20:22.2) in 28th.

The meet included 14 complete teams as Independence/Gilmanton finished 11th with 298 points, Blair-Taylor was 12th with 322, and Whitehall took 13th with 329. 

Jaydan Harz led the Indees by taking 33rd overall with a time of 20:45.1. He was followed by Stian Howard (47th, 21:45.6), Maddox Pronschinske (75th, 24:16.5), Carson Klimek (86th, 25:05.8), and Darion Gibbs (94th, 26:30). The team’s sixth and seventh runners were James Wolfe (96th, 26:40.4) and Jordan Boncimino (107th, 27:42.2).

Caiden Lien took 37th overall with a time of 21:02.9 to lead Blair-Taylor. Robbie Brandt was second on the team (56th, 22:48.8) followed by Aaron Pabst (74th, 24:11.8), Wyatt Schrock (99th, 26:54.6), Jeremiah Oestreich (108th, 27:43.2), and Harley Sweet (123rd, 30:54.4). 

Whitehall was led by Christopher Mann who finished 48th with a time of 21:53.8. Gage Garbers (59th, 23:04.1) was the second Norse runner to cross the finish line followed by Cayden Platteter (64th, 23:39.1), Finn Anderson (100th, 26:54.6), Colby Santos (114th, 29:12.3), Weston Stenulsen (122nd, 30:29.6), and Devan Anderegg (132nd, 37:30.1). 

Independence/Gilmanton’s Allie Sylla nearly made it two-for-two for Trempealeau County teams as she took second in the girls’ race with a time of 21:10.9. She finished less than a minute behind Bangor’s Kenli Gollnick (20:38.8).

The I/G girls had three runners finish inside the top 15 as Anna Kent took sixth (22:34.3) and Sophia Kampa was 15th (24:26.3). The Indees finished fourth in the team standings with 92 points as Paige Pronschinske finished 39th (28:30) and Shawnna Whitewater was 63rd (34:01.2).

G-E-T was right behind I/G with 96 points, led by Bella Tibbits with a season-best time of 24:21.6 to take 13th overall. The Red Hawks also had Harper McCutchen (25:05.7) in 20th, Hadassah Becker (26:42.3) in 28th, Claire Breidenbach (26:51.8) in 30th and Charlee McCutchen (26:53.9) in 31st with a season-best time as well.

Jadrean Borreson finished 21st overall with a time of 25:07.6 for Blair-Taylor. Ally Jorgenson was 51st (30:33.8), and Aleah Polege was 66th (37:28.9) for the Wildcats. 

Symphony Hass finished 65th with a time of 37:06.1 for Whitehall followed by Marisol Guzman (68th, 38:05.9) and Sophia Knutson (71st, 40:43.4). 

Arcadia, Blair-Taylor, G-E-T, Independence/Gilmanton and Whitehall will all be part of the field at the 49th annual Gale-Ettrick Trempealeau Invitational on Thursday at Ettrick Golf Course. The girls’ varsity race is scheduled to get underway at 5:15 p.m. with the boys’ varsity race to follow.