Tigerhawk girls win twice, set two records at SICL Indoor track meet

GRINNELL — Colfax-Mingo senior Dakota Hostetter and North Mahaska freshman Cheyenne Shaw had a few epic battles in the one season they faced each other during cross country during the fall.

Two of the very best distance runners in the state were back at it Monday, this time on an oval at the South Iowa Cedar League Indoor meet at the Bear Athletic Center on the campus of Grinnell College.

Hostetter got the best of Shaw in the final two cross country events of the season, and she kept that momentum going Monday with another head-to-head win.

Shaw set the early pace in the 1,500-meter run before Hostetter’s late charge put her in the record books. Hostetter passed Shaw in the final 60 meters, sprinted to the finish line and locked up a new SICL Indoor meet record with a time of 5 minutes, 26.48 seconds.

“My original plan was to just stay behind as long as I could and then go after it toward the end,” Hostetter said. “I got by her there for a bit, but then she passed me back and was going so fast. I thought I was going to settle for second at that point.

“When she passed me, she pinned me against the girls we were both lapping. She wasn’t going for the win at that point and started to slow down. I had some still left in the tank so I just went for it.”

Hostetter’s victory was one of two on the day for her and the Tigerhawks. Hostetter also anchored the Colfax-Mingo 4x800 relay team to a win and a new meet record.

The foursome of sophomore Ilia Hostetter, freshman Abbey McConeghey, sophomore Courtney Burdess and Dakota Hostetter crossed the finish line in 10:48.61. McConeghey turned in a split of 2:34, while Dakota Hostetter turned in a 2:33.

“I have never ran that fast before so I don’t really know what this feels like,” McConeghey said.

McConeghey discovered after cross country season that she was running all fall with celiac disease, a serious autoimmune disorder. With that now under control, McConeghey is ready to make an impact for the Tigerhawks.

“Last year, I couldn’t even break 2:50 in the 800.” McConeghey said. “Once we figured the celiac situation out, things started to turn for me. I’m excited about this relay. I think we can go faster, especially since this one was indoors.”

Dakota Hostetter added, “That one was hard. I am really glad we have Abbey this year and my sister is already getting PRs. She is doing great. Abbey will be very important to the team this year. We have needed another 800 runner and now we can move things around a bit more and maybe be more competitive in other events.”

McConeghey was one of three area individuals to earn a silver medal. She got out to a slow start in the 800 but recovered to finish second. Tigerhawk teammates Amy Russell, Braedynn Rawlins and Rhiannon Haley went 2-3-4 in the shot put, and Lynnville-Sully’s Mallory Loftus grabbed the silver medal in the high jump.

McConeghey got boxed in at the start of the 800 but she recovered enough to make a push for the win. She settled for second with a time of 2:42.08.

“I was not happy with the 800 because I know I can beat her,” McConeghey said. “I got boxed in at the start but made up for it. I was a few seconds behind her with about 300 to go, so it was a mental thing. I just need to run the race better, have a better strategy.”

Russell’s runner-up throw in the shot put covered 31 feet, 2 inches. Rawlins was next at 31-0 1/2, and Haley’s best toss was marked at 30-10.

Lynnville-Sully was competing for the first time this season. Loftus took home the silver in the high jump with a leap of 4-8, and the 4x200 relay team also finished second.

Senior Makenzy Rozendaal, junior Camryn Russell, senior Jataya Meyer and senior Brenna Lanser sprinted around the 200-meter track to grab second in the 4x200 relay. Thanks to a late push from Lanser’s anchor leg, the Hawks finished the race in 1:58.17.

“It was our first track meet of the year so it was good to just get out and compete,” Meyer said. “Once we get outdoors and get onto our track, I think we’ll keep improving that time.”

The next best area finish came from junior Ries Wilson in the high jump. Wilson finished third with a leap of 4-6. Wilson also was part of the Tigerhawks’ distance medley relay that placed fifth. Ilia Hostetter finished fifth in the 1,500 with a time of 6:05.08.

Russell, sophomore Jordan Atwood, Wilson and Dakota Hostetter finished with a time of 5:01.64.

Lynnville-Sully got a fourth-place finish from Lanser in the 200. She finished with a time of 29.96 seconds. Makayla Rozendaal placed fourth in the 1,500 with a time of 6:03.41.

The Hawks’ 4x400 relay team of junior Hailey Scandridge, junior Mariah Vos, freshman Abby Gruver and Loftus placed fourth in 4:40.65.

The SICL does not keep team points. There was an issue with timing during the meet, and results were unavailable at press time for the 60 dash, 60 hurdles and 400 dash.