Calonett Estate holds second Collegiate race

The Calonett Estate of Waseca held its second collegiate level 5K race featuring ten colleges the morning of Saturday, Oct. 11 titled “The Kent Finanger Invitational.” There was no head count, but close to 250 vehicles filled both parking lots available on the property. There were also buses transporting people in from the dog park at the south end of Clear Lake. A free meal of sloppy joes, potato salad, coleslaw, chips, packets of veggies were all provided by Calonett for the athletes. Food vendors were on hand for spectators to purchase food if they wished. Attendees were encouraged to bring chairs if they wished to sit during the race.

 

The winners of the men’s race were: first place, Mohammed Bati of Augsburg with 11:51.4; second place, Nick Brauer of Gustavus Adolphus with 12:26.9; and third place, Michel Heinrich of Luther with 12:30.4.

 

The winners of the women’s race were: first place, Ella Dufault of Crown with 14:53.7; second place, Addison Enfield of Gustavus Adolphus with 15:10.0; and third place, Eleanor Lindeman of St. Catherine with 15:18.6.

 

Before the first race, Cheryl Mishek, who graciously let her property be used for the days race, provided opening comments to the racers, “I absolutely love you guys; I’m jealous I can’t be with you today, but just get out there, run your best race and have a ton of fun.” During the race Mishek made sure music was played, the type of music that gets racing kids’ blood pumping in excitement.

 

Marty Hoffmeister, part-time grounds keeper for the Calonett Estate said, “It takes a crew of three of us 28 hours to mow this yard every week, we use riders, push mowers. That’s not counting the prep that was done to get the yard ready for today. All that work is so worth it because this is such a beautiful property.” He was driving a golf cart down the driveway towards the entrance and passed the large pond with the fountain in the middle and said, “They stock that pond too, it’s got northerns, sunfish and crappies.” The golf cart came to a stop and a man named John Wuertz got on, he had gotten his taco to go and said, “I just need a ride to the bus, good race today, I’m glad I came, this place is awesome.”

 

After the men’s race, Mohammed Bati was requested to come to the announcer’s tent and he said, “I graduated from Highland Park high school in St. Paul, this is a phenomenal course, I have been honored to race here today. These hills here are a reality we all have to accept.

 

Ella Dufault, first place for the women was interviewed and said, “I graduated from Waseca High School, I am studying nursing, this year is going well. Since cross country is such an extreme sport, we have to support each other, whether it’s in racing, competing or whatever. Today my goal was to run and have fun doing it.”

 

Colleges competing included Augsburg College out of St. Paul, Gustavus Adolphus of St. Peter, Luther of the Twin Cities, Crown College of St. Bonifacius, Martin Luther of New Ulm, University of Minnesota-Morris, North Central of Minneapolis, St. Catherine of St. Paul. To view the full results of this race and many others, go to www.wayzataresults.com.