MADELIA &045; The competition figured to be strong in the first Gopher/Valley Conference cross country meet, and the New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva boys were up to the challenge.

The Panthers placed fourth &045; missing third by a tiebreaker &045; among eight schools Tuesday at Madelia.

Favored United South Central won with 28 points, followed by Madelia/Truman with 78, Maple River 91, NRHEG 91, Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial 108, Blooming Prairie 110 and Martin County West 191. Elmore Academy had an incomplete squad.

Matt Reiter paced the Panthers, finishing 13th in 18:20. He earned all-conference honors along with Jacey Reese, who was 14th in 18:27, and Brian Bos, who clocked 18:55 for 19th place.

The Panthers’ other two runners who scored received honorable mention all-conference: Zak Tracy, 21st, 19:06; and Andy Tomsche, 24th, 19:23.

Also running for the NRHEG boys were Ben Waldhauser, 41st, 21:13; and Orrie Anthony, 46th, 22:24.

The NRHEG girls finished at the bottom of a seven-team field. USC/Alden-Conger was first with 33 points, defeating second-place Martin County West by 13 points. Blooming Prairie was sixth with 139 points. The Panthers had 160.

Jessica Brouwers earned honorable mention all-conference by placing 17th in 17:41.

Other places and times for the NRHEG girls: Karla Lewer, 27th, 17:41; April Bayerkohler, 31st, 17:55; Britt Panuska, 40th, 19:36; Jennifer Routh, 45th, 20:29; Melissa Maurer, 47th, 21:26; Tiffany Wayne, 49th, 26:21.

&uot;The girls had good times,&uot; said coach Art Barnett. &uot;But the competition was the toughest I’ve seen yet at a conference meet.&uot;