Pella Christian edges short-handed Mustangs at Chariton

CHARITON — While not at full strength, the PCM girls cross country team faced a fully loaded Pella Christian squad for the first time and the two state-ranked teams were separated by only three points at the Chariton Cross Country Invitational on Tuesday.

The Class 2A No. 8 Eagles placed six runners in the first 11 positions and won the girls’ meet title with 34 points.

Class 2A No. 3 PCM was better at the front of its lineup but scored 37 points without top-five runner Paiten Rumbaugh, who missed the meet due to an illness.

Abi Teeter, who is ranked 18th in 2A, led the Mustangs with a runner-up finish in the 5K race. She secured the silver medal with a time of 20 minutes, 2.17 seconds.

That was about 12 seconds behind race winner Tierney Carter of 3A Oskaloosa. Carter won the race in 19:49.62.

Pella Christian’s Keilah Schiebout finished third in 20:28.19. The next three runners were separated by .44 seconds.

PCM’s Lila Milani (20:33.42) and 2A No. 28 Ali Hilsabeck (20:33.86) were fourth and sixth, respectively, while Pella Christian’s Bailey Vos was fifth in 20:33.74. Vos is currently ranked 15th in 2A.

Bailey Wheeler (21:29.01) and Annie Ford (21:30.5) were the final scoring runners for PCM. They placed 12th and 13th, respectively, while Jodi Jungling (21:57.93) finished 15th.

Raegan Vannoy (23:40.01) and Lexi Fagg (23:46.32) were non-scoring runners in 37th and 38th, respectively.

Rumbaugh should return to the lineup soon. Darbey DeRaad, who has been out since early September, is not expected to be back this season due to an injury.