Freshman Milani leads PCM girls to fourth at XC state qualifier

PELLA — Lila Milani did not go out for cross country in junior high. She doesn’t have a race strategy. And she doesn’t even use her watch during races.

Milani has a lot to learn about the sport, but if her performance on Thursday during the Class 2A state qualifying meet at Pella Sports Park is just the beginning, then her future is so bright she might want to wear shades.

“I have never really had goals for myself. I just run and try my best,” Milani said. “Coach Karr set a goal of 20:45, which is exactly what I got.”

Milani’s time of 20 minutes, 45.49 seconds was fast enough to put her in the top 15 on Thursday. And it clinched an automatic berth into next week’s 2A state meet in Fort Dodge.

The top 15 finishers in the girls’ 5K race advance to the state meet along with the top three teams.

A new rule that went into effect this fall did not apply to the girls’ race. There were five runners from non-qualifying teams who finished in the top 15, including Milani, who was 13th overall.

“It feels really good. It’s exciting to make it as a freshman and in my first year ever,” Milani said. “I’m excited for state.”

While Milani making it to her first state meet is exciting for the PCM girls’ cross country team, it was a bittersweet day for the Mustangs.

Class 2A No. 4 Des Moines Christian won the meet championship with 47 points and second-ranked Albia was the runner-up with 57 points.

The final state team berth came down to No. 15 PCM and No. 16 Clarinda. Unfortunately for the Mustangs, the Cardinals were two points better.

Des Moines Christian had four runners inside the top 15 and three within the top 12.

Class 2A No. 3 McKenna Montgomery of Albia was the race winner in 18:42.56, and the Lady Dees placed three in the top 11.

Clarinda scored 99 points in third, PCM was fourth with 101 and No. 20 Pella Christian finished fifth with 115.

The back end of the Mustangs’ lineup had a significant advantage over the Cardinals. But No. 8 Raenna Henke led Clarinda with a runner-up finish in 19:20.99.

“They already figured out that if it came down to a sixth runner we would have made it,” Karr said. “It’s part of life. You can’t come out and do it every single day. It’s fun to have a team that has a shot. It’s fun to be a part of a team that so many are paying attention to. This team was legit, and they are only going to get better.”

The only senior on either PCM cross country team was Tiffani Koonce. She entered the day as the team’s top runner but missed out on a state berth by a few positions.

Koonce was 17th in 21:20.20 and 2022 state qualifier Abi Teeter was 19th in 21:24.8.

“I hate that it’s over for Tiffani,” Karr said. “It wasn’t even a bad race or a bad time. It just wasn’t where she thought she’d be. The legs weren’t there 100 percent tonight, but she had a fantastic season.”

All seven Mustangs finished in the top 40. The other two scoring runners were Ali Hilsabeck and Bailey Wheeler. Hilsabeck was 26th in 22:00.68 and Wheeler finished 32nd in 22:13.78.

Raegan Vannoy (22:42.02) and Makayla True (22:54.65) were non-scoring runners in 34th and 37th, respectively.

PCM finished seventh as a team last year. The rest of the 12-team field on Thursday featured Woodward-Granger (191), Interstate 35 (216), West Marshall (218), West Central Valley (234), Red Oak (255), Southeast Valley (310) and Chariton (357).

“We can use this as motivation for next year,” Milani said. “Sometimes you just don’t run your best.”

Karr said he tried to get Milani out for cross country in both seventh and eighth grade. She was hesitant because none of her friends did it.

Milani eventually went out for cross country because she wanted to stay in shape for basketball and track. She also didn’t have anything else going on.

“I got a message from her Mom right before the summer and she told me to add Lila to the group,” Karr said. “She made big progress at Centerville. That’s probably when I thought making it to state was possible for her. On paper, I even had her 13th.”