Paul Metcalf Invitational honors ‘Father’ of Mountain Lake cross country
The first (and only) home cross country meet for Mountain Lake Public High School (MLHS) was run at Mountain Lake Golf Course in 1972 – boys only. It was the Laker Invitational.
It became the Wolverine Invitational when MLHS paired with Butterfield-Odin Public High School (B-OHS) and the team sports teams were renamed the ML-BO Wolverines. The race remained an invite of the same name after B-OHS left the pairing – and Mountain Lake Christian (MLC) entered and the Mountain Lake Area (MLA) team was formed.
This year – 2017 – begins a new era with new permanent race name – the Paul Metcalf Invitational.
In addition, for the first time, girls and boys runners from Red Rock Central (RRC) will be paired with MLHS and MLC; all three schools competing as the MLA Wolverines.
The Paul Metcalf Invitational will be held at the Mountain Lake Golf Course on Wednesday morning, August 30, beginning at 10 a.m.
Metcalf is recognized as the “Father” of Mountain Lake cross country, beginning the sport at MLHS in 1972. He was an active cross country coach and track-and-field coach for 45 years, and continues to assist as a volunteer coach for the MLA Wolverines’ boys basketball team. Metcalf is a member of the Minnesota State Cross Country Coaches Hall of Fame (and the Mountain Lake Public School Athletic Hall of Fame). Over the course of his years at Mountain Lake Public School, Metcalf was an elementary physical education teacher, as well as high school social studies instructor, along with his stint as a boys basketball coach.
Available for purchase will be a limited number of special series T-shirts for $12, featuring a meet logo on the front – and a varied well-known “Paulism” emblazoned on the back.
A third change at this year’s invite is the course itself. According to MLA Wolverine Cross Country Head Coach Kyle Blomgren, “In order to avoid running through the parking lot and over the old wooden bridges, the route was changed.” the start and finish will be behind the golf course clubhouse.
Joining Blomgren this year as an assistant coach is Laura Penner.
Participating teams, in addition to host MLA, will be Adrian, Fairmont, Jackson County Central (JCC), Lake Crystal/Wellcome Memorial-Nicollet (LCWM-N), Luverne, Madelia-Truman-Granada/Huntley/East Chain (M-T-GHEC), Murray County Central (MCC), Martin County West (MCW), Heron Lake-Okabena (HL-O), United South Central-Alden/Conger (USC-AC) and Windom.
The race schedule will be as follows:
- 10 a.m. – Girls Varsity and Junior Varsity 5000-meter run (top seven runners finishing for each team count as varsity).
- 10:30 a.m. – Boys Varsity and Junior Varsity 5000-meter run (top seven runners finishing for each team count as varsity).
- 11:10 a.m. – Girls Junior High 1600-meter (unlimited entries).
- 11:25 – Boys Junior High 1600-meter (unlimited entries).
- 11:40 a.m. – Results and awards. (Team trophies for Champion Girls and Boys Varsity Teams. Varsity Girls and Boys medals for 1-15. Junior High Girls and Boys Ribbons for 1-15.)
- Times are approximate.
The MLA Wolverine Booster Club will be offering a limited-menu concession stand that will include hot dogs, fruit, bars, beverages etc.
Below is a rundown on the winning team(s) and champions from the Mountain Lake meet over the past 45 years:
