The Dike-New Hartford girls, Grundy Center girls and North Butler boys cross country teams each advanced to the state meet with qualifying performances at Thursday’s state qualifying meets.
The Wolverines placed second with 66 points at the 2A qualifier at Eagle Grove. Olivia Petullo led the Wolverines by placing eighth, Lucy Epley was 13th, Izzy Stumbo 17th, Chloe Paulsen 18th and Josey Syhlman 19th.
At the 2A meet at Iowa City Regina, the Spartans placed third with 103 points. Grace Storjohann led the team by placing third, Evelyn Geerdes was 11th, Maddy Hendershot 24th, Karlee Lynch 27th and Makenna Steinmeyer 50th.
At South Hamilton, the Bearcats placed second with 122 points. Ezra Almelien led in fifth place, Brady Henning in eighth, Trager Pecha in 22nd, Miles Nielsen in 44th and William Nielsen in 53rd. Head Coach Kirk Clark.
“It was a pretty emotional event that just happened a little while ago,” Clark says. “It’s just amazing. We’ve been so close, one place out for years and years, and it’s here. I can’t believe it, and it’s pretty awesome.”
Several local individuals qualified. In Mason City, West Fork freshman Makenna Dick placed ninth in a PR of 20:32.
“I’m so happy to be able to go today, and I’m so proud of myself for all the work I’ve been able to put in starting this summer and all through the season,” Dick says. “I really wanted to make it to state and after being injured for a while, I wasn’t able to run, and that really gave me the motivation to be able to run today.”
In Iowa City, reigning 2A champion Emerson Vokes placed first in 15:49. Teammates Leo Block in 13th and Jayce Fryslie in 14th also advanced. South Hardin’s Jonah Vanderwilt placed 15th in Oelwein, and Dike-New Hartford’s Sully O’Neill placed 10th in Eagle Grove.
The state meet will be held at Lakeside Municipal Golf Course in Fort Dodge. Class 2A will compete on Friday, October 31, and Class 1A will be Saturday, November 1.
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