Cedar Grove-Belgium sisters Brynlee and Lydia Schmidt both qualified for the Division 3 state cross-country meet, turning the sectional into a family milestone. Brynlee won the race, while Lydia earned her first state berth in sixth. Ozaukee placed fifth as a young team, led by Madison Glaeser’s 16th-place finish.

By the Numbers
  • Brynlee Schmidt won the 5,000-meter race in 19:33.1, finishing 18 seconds ahead of the runner-up.
  • Lydia Schmidt placed sixth among 125 runners in 20:20.8.
  • Cedar Grove-Belgium finished ninth with 217 points; Ozaukee was fifth with 141.
Yes, But

Cedar Grove-Belgium raced without its No. 3 runner, Ava Gregory, who was ill. Ozaukee had hoped to finish higher, but its coach said the young team exceeded expectations in its first sectional appearance for many runners.

State of Play
  • Brynlee has qualified for state in all three of her high school seasons; Lydia will make her state debut.
  • Ozaukee’s top seven includes just two seniors, giving the Warriors a young core to build on.
What's Next

The state meet is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 25, in Wisconsin Rapids. Brynlee will look to improve on her previous finishes of 48th last year and 47th in 2024, while the sisters compete together for the first time at state.

Bottom Line

The Schmidts’ state qualification caps a season of progress: Brynlee has emerged as a race winner, and Lydia’s breakthrough shows how far persistence and family support can carry a young runner.