PCM boys dominate in easy win at Huxley

HUXLEY — The PCM boys varsity cross country team didn’t race last week in Grinnell. The Mustangs showed last week’s training was worth it Monday night at the Ballard Invitational. Running in Class B, PCM took five of the top eight spots. Chris Musgrove (16:44) took first, Steve Bruxvoort (17:05) third, Jake Potter (17:06) fourth, Colten Reed (17:20) sixth and Ben Naber (17:40) eighth. “It was outstanding,” PCM coach Rod Musgrove said. “Our fifth guy placed eighth. It’s like a state meet up there.” PCM easily won team honors in Class B with 22 points. Nevada was second with 75 points. “The key was being prepared and running smart,” coach Musgrove said. “The boys took it easy in the first mile, then smoked everybody in the second mile. We trained rather than raced last week. We train for three meets in the year. We’re still training for districts, state and Clinton. We’re not close to where we can be. The future is looking bright.” CMB Collins-Maxwell-Baxter got a strong performance Monday from Justin Means. The only time Means has finished in less than 18 minutes was last year at the boys state cross country meet. Add Monday’s performance to the list as Means took seventh at Huxley with a 17:49. “Justin Means ran a great race,” CMB coach Jerry Meinerts said. “He got out to a great start and competed really well. I am very pleased with how he raced tonight.” Coming in next for CMB was senior Jon Findlay as he took 10th with a time of 18:03. Nathan Poage was third among Raiders with an 18:58, while Shawn Plunkett and Jon Reinhold finished in 20:00 and 20:27, respectively. Jacob Ross finished in 20:42. “Jon Findlay also ran extremely well,” Meinerts said. “He competed well and continues to get better. “I think Nathan Poage ran a great race. He continues to get better every meet and ran a great race tonight. Our other guys ran well also. Jon Reinhold and Jacob Ross continue to improve.” The only other runner missing from the top four from Monday was Dom Reinhold. The senior went down with an injury during the race. However, Meinerts said he doesn’t think the injury is too serious and that Reinhold should be able to run soon. “Any time you have one of your top runners go down with an injury, everyone needs to step it up and fill in their shoes,” Meinerts said. In girls action, CMB senior Jen Coughenour regained team bragging rights over freshman Katelyn Findlay, but the competition was once again close. Coughenour crossed in 27th with a time of 17:44, while Katelyn Findlay was 29th at 17:49. “Jen Coughenour and Katelyn Findlay continue to work together to make each other better,” Meinerts said. “Jen had the better time tonight but both girls continue to be our top runners.” Jen Coughenour improved her time in the race by 45 seconds compared to last year. Also finishing for the Raiders was Sarah Galbraith in 19:37, Allison Moore in 24:29, Riley Dawson in 25:51 and Becky Hall in 27:53. “Sarah Galbraith ran her best time of the year,” Meinerts said. “She can still run faster once she learns how to pace herself over the course.” C-M Colfax-Mingo competed in Class C, finishing ninth with the girls and 10th in boys. Pacing the girls was Meghan Parman in 40th (19:04). Other times were recorded by Abby Johnson (49th), Ashley Stuva (50th), Katie Stuva (52nd) and Molly Maggard (55th). The Tigerhawk boys were led by Travis Jensen, who was 50th with a time of 21:25. Other C-M boys were Harrison Koenig (52nd), Shadoe Rusk (58th), Matt Overlin (60th) and Darrian Drumheller (68th). “This was a big meet, and I am pleased that most of my runners improved their times from last year at Ballard by at least a minute,” C-M coach Kathleen Goodman said. “We need to look at personal improvement year to year at each course.” Last Tuesday at Lake Keomah, the C-M girls placed fourth as a team with the boys fifth. Parman and Jensen again led the Tigerhawks on that night. Last Thursday C-M competed in Johnston. Parman led the girls, while Rusk led the boys. L-S Lynnville-Sully competed in Class D Monday at Ballard. The girls took fifth as a team with 123 points, while Earlham won with 51 points. The L-S boys were sixth with 153 points. BCLUW won with 38 points. “I think everyone had a chance to get refreshed over the weekend following some tough days of practice to finish out last week,” L-S coach Darin Arkema said of his teams. Mariah Terlouw led the L-S girls with a sixth-place run (16:40). Carly Van Wyk was 23rd (18:27), Cassie Schwartz 25th (18:32), Kelsi Vanden Hoek 27th (18:46) and Maddi Jensen 42nd (19:55). Shanna Rea was 45th (21:09). “Mariah had a nice race and got a good look at who the competition may be later in the year,” Arkema said. “Carly, Cassie and Kelsi stepped up huge as all three ran under 19 minutes en route to personal bests. Maddi also ran a personal best, breaking 20 minutes for the first time. “Shanna came up huge for us because our team score was a tie through five places so they go to the sixth runner, and she was four spots ahead,” Arkema added. On the boys side, Andy Sneller led the Hawks in 15th (19:21). Others scores were Bill Trettin (20th, 19:33), Sam Wenndt (33rd, 20:50), Nick Rozendaal (42nd, 21:26) and Robbie Guthrie (43rd, 21:27). “Andy led us again, but was a little disappointed to not have run faster,” Arkema said. “Bill ran his best race ever and pushed Andy along through the last mile of the race. Bill definitely got a confidence booster tonight. Sam and Nick both had solid races and continue to cut the gap to our first two runners.” L-S runs again tonight at English Valleys, with the meet starting at 5 p.m.