By Tom Schardin, Staff Writer

The Burnsville girls cross country team finished fourth out of 13 teams at the Dewey Minneart Invitational on Sept. 4 at St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park in Hastings.

The No. 5-ranked Blaze had 145 team points, which was well behind champion Wayzata (83) and runner-up Eagan (88).

The Blaze was running without one of its top performers in senior captain Sarah Daniels, who was out with a leg injury.

Sophomore Sharmila Ahmed had the Blaze's best time on the 4,000-meter course, taking ninth overall with a time of 16:15. Senior Erica Hett was 13th (16:24), followed by seventh-grader Vivian Hett (23rd, 16:45), senior Maria Tinebra (35th, 17:06), senior Jessie Mosier (65th, 18:13), sophomore Lisa Nelson (66th, 18:14) and sophomore Alissa Fisher (68th, 18:15).

Meanwhile, the Blaze boys team finished sixth in the 14-team field with 183 points. St. Paul Central won the title (67 points), followed by Red Wing (77).

Sophomore Shane Goeser led the Blaze on the 5,000-meter course taking 20th overall (18:18). Sophomore Erik Kollasch was 35th (18:45), followed by junior Myhave-Abas Mohamed (38th, 18:49), eighth-grader Seth Warren (44th, 19:03), sophomore Erik Lindstrom (46th, 19:05), senior Tim Ripplemeyer (51st, 19:16) and senior Sean O'Brien (71st, 19:45).

Both Blaze teams will be back in action on Friday, Sept. 12 at the Lakeville Applejack Invitational at Aronson Park starting at 4 p.m.