BHS cross-country runners setting the pace

A pair of Burnsville High School cross-country runners have consistently made their way to the front of the pack at area meets this fall.

Carley LaMotte and Lliam Merrell have started their senior seasons strong, earning numerous first-place finishes and setting records as they both work toward their fourth straight state meet appearances. 

LaMotte placed second and fifth in her first two meets this fall before establishing a new school record at the Cowbell Classic in Farmington on Sept. 25, completing the 5-kilometer course in 18 minutes flat to best 357 other runners and clear second place by 50 seconds.

“My coach and I made a good plan after our second race when I didn’t have a great ending,” LaMotte said. “I stuck with the group for the first mile then separated myself, maybe too quickly but it went really well. I had a lot more left at the end.”

Like LaMotte, Merrell entered the season eager to keep building on his previous success. He earned two first-place medals and a second-place finish in his first three meets this fall, including a winning time of 15:55 on Sept. 4 at St. Croix Regional Park, a result that was 20 seconds faster than his clocking on the same course a year ago. He added a 15th-place finish against some of the best runners from around the Midwest in the championship race at the Griak Invitational.

LaMotte and Merrell came back and swept individual honors Oct. 4 at the Simley Invitational, with LaMotte besting the girls field with a time of 18:44 and Merrell winning the boys race in 16:23.

“I think I’m a lot faster and in better shape this year,” Merrell said. “The feeling of having a good race is so motivating and I just want to keep having that feeling again.”

Both runners have been putting in the work. Merrell topped out at around 60 miles a week over the summer and is in the low 50s now. LaMotte typically runs around 30 miles a week during track season, but she’s closer to 40 now. In addition to their own hard work, both runners also credited the coaches they’ve worked with at Burnsville High School with helping them reach their potential.

“I think great coaching (from boys’ Head Coach Jeffrey Webber and his staff) has really helped me,” Merrell said. “They’re super personable and the good relationships I have with them definitely helps me stay motivated and keeps me wanting to do well in school, as well as being good on the track and on the cross-country course.”

“I think Coach [Charlie] Burnham has obviously played a huge role in helping me and the rest of the team. He’s always there for me and believed in me. He’s always been very encouraging when the ends of races have been tough,” LaMotte said. “All the coaches have been very helpful, whether it’s biking along while I’m running or helping me with the mental side of things.”

Both runners are hoping to close out their high school careers with top-10 state finishes and then continue running in college. LaMotte has already committed to compete in track and field and cross-country at the University of Indiana. 

“Right now, the top 10 or maybe top five at state would be great. That’s my goal right now,” Merrell said. 

“Right now a lot of girls are running well. At state last year I was up in the pack and by the end I kind of got passed,” LaMotte said. ‘My goal is to run with the girls I know I can run with and to place and get a medal.”