Area runners dominate state standings

Grundy Center sends three to State, Hudson girls shine

Grundy Center’s Grace Storjohann continued her fantastic 2024 cross country season at the Class 2A state qualifier at Pella Sports Park on Thursday. Meanwhile, a Hudson trio pushed the entire Pirates team to come out.

Storjohann finished fifth overall with a time of 20:01.27 to earn her ticket as an individual qualifier. Alyssa Richman of Manson-NW Webster won the race with a time of 19:19.27.

The Hudson trio of Mollie Hanson, Ella Steele and Desarae Lang finished eighth, ninth and tenth, respectively. The three Pirates finished just eight seconds apart, with Hansen posting a time of 20:06:13, followed by Steele at 20:11.71 and Lang at 20:14.43.

With three low finishers, Hudson finished third in the team standings with 87 points. The Pirates join champion Mid-Prairie and runner-up Pella Christian in advancing from this qualifier.

On the boys side, Grundy Center’s Emerson Vokes dominated in a time of 15:47.11 to win the event and punch his ticket to state. Vokes finished 38 seconds ahead of the rest.

Teammate Jayce Fryslie finished 13th with a time of 17:51.54 to also earn a trip to State. The top 15 individual finishers and the top three teams qualify for the State Meet.

Sumner-Fredericksburg wins women’s title, Oelwein captures men’s

Eight of the top 15 finishers in the Oelwein standings were from the Cedar Valley area, led by Mackenzie Wilson of Jesup. The senior posted a time of 19:50.2 on the Hickory Grove Golf Course to earn medalist honors.

Sumner-Fredericksburg’s Rylee Shonka led the Cougars to the team title, finishing fourth in a time of 20:44. Teammates Kendall Suckow (9^th21:05.5), Jaci Snyder (14^th21:22.7) and Ella Pitz (15^th 21:23.2) helped Sumner-Fredericksburg win the team title over Crestwood and Forest City.

New Hampton’s Sophie Glaser moves on to state, finishing sixth in a time of 20:48.1. Aplington-Parkersburg’s Quinnlyn Schultz also joins the field by finishing 10th overall in 21:08.4.

In the men’s category, Oelwein and Jesup advanced to the state competition. The host Huskies were team champions, followed by Forest City and Jesup.

Oelwein’s Conall Sauser was the overall champion with a time of 16:40.8 All five of the Huskies’ scorers finished in the top 15, while Sauser was followed by Keshaun Williams (5^th17:19.8), Gabe Driscoll (12^th17:39.2), Caleb Schunk (11^th17:49.7) and Landon Dowd (15^th17:57.4).

Two Jesup runners placed in the top 10. Karsten Nuehring was fourth overall in 17:15.9, while teammate Nathan Pink finished seventh in 17:26.8

The State Cross Country Championships will be next Friday and Saturday in Fort Dodge.

Denver boys and girls dominate at Monticello

Both Denver teams will make it to state after finishing second to Tipton in the team competition.

The Cyclone girls were led by Reeve Ristau (6^th19:59.3), Avery Trunkhill (7^th20:08.7) and Lily Cooper (12^th20:39)

Union Community’s Amilia Condon was second in the Monticello qualifier with a time of 18:38.3. She finished one spot ahead of Osage’s Scarlett Byrnes, who finished in 18:54.6. Osage also placed Kendall Power in the state field with a 15^th finishing place in 20:43.8. Tipton’s Noelle Steines was the overall champion in 17:52.5.

In the men’s competition, Denver won the event over Waukon. Myles Matías (2^{North Dakota}16:15.8), Jesse Gomez (4^th16:36.7) and Caden Knoblock (6^th16:59.4) promoted the cyclones. Tipton’s Clay Bohlmann won the event in 16:04.9.

Union Community’s Cooper Davis finished 15th^th overall in 17:34.2.

Wapsie Valley girls, North Butler boys earn state tickets

At the Class 1A state qualifier in Central Springs, the Wapsie Valley girls team finished second behind Madrid and earned a trip to state.

Adalynn Kane continued her excellent freshman season with an eighth place finish with a time of 20:08.2. Katelyn Brandhorst from Madrid won the title with a time of 19:11.3.

Individual qualifiers include Nashua-Plainfield’s Kadence Huck (2^{North Dakota}19:12.5), Claire Zweibohmer (5^th19:38.6), and the Lilac powers of Saint Ansgar (9^th20:12.5).

The North Butler boys had a strong showing with a third place finish behind champion Lake Mills and Fort Dodge St. Edmond.

Wapsie Valley’s Aiden Brady was seventh in 17:25.9. North Butler’s Ezra Almelien led the Bearcats with a 10th-place finish in 17:42. Teammate Brady Henning finished 14th^th at 18:01.7.

Northern Iowa’s Gavin Grunhovd was the individual champion in 16:13.

Two from Columbus Catholic, Dunkerton’s Waskow to state

Running at North Linn’s state qualifier, Dunkerton’s Abbi Waskow earned a trip to the 1A state meet. She finished fourth overall with a time of 19:41.7. Starmont’s Lauren Krogmann won the event in 19:23.1.

Aaliyah Causey of Columbus Catholic was eighth overall with a time of 20:39.6.

In the men’s event, Columbus Catholic placed two runners in the top 15. Jace Matern was the runner-up with a time of 16:53.7. Maquoketa Valley’s Matthew Schaul won the event in 16:38.4.

Columbus Catholic’s Elijah Strei finished 11th^th in a time of 17:50.8 to one place in the classification.