Back-to-Back: L-S cross country teams secure return trips to state meet

COGGAN — The Lynnville-Sully cross country teams both qualified for the state cross country meet for the first time in 29 years last fall.

The state-ranked Hawks backed it up again this season and proved last year wasn’t fluke during a Class 1A state qualifying meet at North Linn High School on Thursday.

Colton Alberts and Blakes Wilmesmeier led a 1-2 finish in the boys’ 5K race, and the 1A No. 9 Hawks placed second in the 15-team standings.

Emma Parkinson and Mandeesa Vos also qualified as individuals for the No. 11 Hawk girls, who also placed second in their final standings.

“The Hawks had themselves a day,” L-S head cross country coach Darin Arkema said. “Many of them logged hundreds of miles in the summer to prepare for the season, kept working through the highs and the lows of the season, and when it finally came to this day, they ran with tremendous effort and got the job done.

“Us coaches are so proud of their determination and grit, and we are blessed and thankful for each team member’s character, personality and desire to be a part of this team.”

The top two teams and top 10 individuals qualify for the state meet in 1A. The site took two extra males as there must be five runners not from a qualifying team who advance to Fort Dodge.

Class 1A No. 13 Hudson won the girls’ regional title with 31 points. The Pirates went 1-2 in the race and placed five in the first 14 positions.

Class 1A No. 11 Lynnville-Sully scored 59 points. The rest of the 11-team field included North Tama (83), North Linn (121), Columbus Community (144), Lone Tree (155), BGM (178), Bellevue (195), Belle Plaine (222), HLV/TC (264) and Easton Valley (265).

Parkinson finished fifth in the girls’ 5K race with a time of 20 minutes, 39.4 seconds. Vos, who is now a two-time individual state qualifier, was eighth in 21:13.7.

“(Parkinson) raced up with the top 7-8 runners right from the gun and stayed within striking distance of the second place runner throughout the race to finish,” Arkema said. “Happy for her to have put in the work and accomplished an individual goal she set for herself. (Mandeesa Vos) worked her way into the top 10 and then never relinquished it.”

Peyton Sharp (22:25.3), Breah Lowry (22:31.9) and Isabelle Vos (23:01.3) were the final scoring runners in 15th, 16th and 23rd, respectively.

Katelyn Nikkel (24:56.1) and Morgan Hay (28:00.2) were non-scoring runners in 40th and 64th, respectively.

The Lynnville-Sully girls cross country team qualified for the state meet for 10th time since 1994.

“(Sharp), (Lowry) and (Isabelle Vos) were really tough for us during the third lap around the course,” Arkema said. “North Tama had a number of runners right in where those three were at and relaxing or running comfortably was not an option for any of them. They each pressed through and locked up our team standing ahead of third place North Tama.”

Class 1A No. 8 Mollie Hansen of Hudson won the girls’ race in 19:38.5 Hudson’s Ella Steele was the runner-up in 20:27.1. Calamus-Wheatland’s Tynley Bousselot (20:31.1) and Columbus Catholic’s Iris Garza (20:38.1) were third and fourth, respectively.

Class 1A No. 10 Columbus Community won the boys’ district title with 38 points. The Wildcats went 5-6-8-9-10 at the top of their lineup.

Class 1A No. 9 Lynnville-Sully finished second despite going 1-2 in the race. The Hawks scored 63 points and were well in front of third place Bellevue, which scored 132.

The rest of the 15-team field included Calamus-Wheatland (158), BGM (174), Hudson (182), Prince of Peace (189), Durant (197), Lone Tree (266), Easton Valley (269), North Cedar (277), Bellevue Marquette (290), Belle Plaine (292), HLV/TC (318) and Rivermont Collegiate (409).

“The course is basically a mile loop on the grounds around the North Linn school that runners repeat three times and finish on their limestone track,” Arkema said. “It’s a pretty flat course with only three short hills per lap. It was a beautiful day and, while the wind was definitely calmer than what it was earlier in the week, it was still a factor that probably slowed times a bit.”

Alberts, who is ranked No. 19 in 1A, won the boys’ race in 17:13. Wilmesmeier was the runner-up in 17:28.3 and Madden Gunsaulus (18:35.6) placed 15th.

Alberts is now a three-time individual state qualifier, while Wilmesmeier advanced to the state meet for a second straight season.

Sam Terlouw (19:03.3) and Ethan Dunsbergen (19:10.4) were the final scoring runners in 22nd and 23rd, respectively.

Keegan Schnell (19:28.9) and Evan Arkema (19:35.5) were non-scoring runners in 28th and 34th, respectively.

“(Alberts) and (Wilmesmeier) jumped right out at the start as two of the front pack of runners,” Arkema said. “By the time the race was headed to the first mile it was basically a race of those two and maybe three other guys for the front position.

“(Alberts) didn’t get rattled when another runner took the lead during the second mile. He kept contact and moved himself right back to the front and over the last half mile and pulled away to secure the victory. (Wilmesmeier) made a furious final kick down the homestretch of the track to secure a 1-2 Hawk finish. (Gunsaulus) was near the top 10-15 for nearly the whole race. He has made so much improvement from his freshman year, but I believe he has potential for even more yet this year. I hope we get to see it next week.”

The Iowa High School State Cross Country Championships take place at Lakeside Municipal Golf Course in Fort Dodge. The Class 1A races begin at 2 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. on Saturday.