It looks like ‘reload,’ rather than ‘rebuild’ this season for Solon Cross Country. Solon’s boys return all seven starters from last year’s state meet (with an 11th place team finish) and have 12 seniors from their 2022 team roster. On the girls’ side five varsity starters are back, three of whom ran at State where Solon finished third in a tight Class 3A race.
“Their leadership, their knowledge of the meets, both teams! They make the new runners feel welcome; helping them learn what to do. So, it’s exciting,” exclaimed head coach Emy Williams. They have been working hard all summer; all the leadership qualities, too. They came to this first week of practice ready to go.”
State entrants in 2022, boys want to improve 2023 finish
Making the varsity lineup will be a major challenge for most of the Solon boys. Only seven run varsity at each meet. The Spartans return all seven 2022 state qualifiers with a dozen seniors in their 32-runner lineup this year. In 2022, Solon’s Brick Kabela was 17th across the finish line in the State 3A race. Kabale was ranked {span}17{/span}{sup}th{/sup}{span} in the Iowa Association of Track Coaches’ (IATC) 3A preseason top-30 individual rankings.{/span} Michael Yeomans was 31st in the individual standings at State and was ranked 28th in the IATC’s preseason rankings, with Grant Bumstead 66th. Lawsin Sinnwell, Evan Burg, Camden Lyons, and Wyatt Applegarth were next through the chute for the Spartans.
“Our senior boys this season? they’re just great leaders, with knowledge of cross country that they bring to the team. On the boys’ side, we didn’t lose anybody off the varsity roster,” points out Williams. “I’m excited to see what this season has in store for them. A lot of them have been running over the summer and working hard. We are seeing that growth already in them!”
A point out of second? Girls aim higher in 2023
“We have lots of new faces on the girls’ side: ten freshmen and three or four other first year runners. (The upper-class runners) really just make them feel welcome and help them learn what to do,” notes Williams. “All five (state meet returnees, and the others), with their leadership and knowledge, make the new runners feel welcome.”
Mary Fiala leads those returnees with a 23rd place finish last fall. Sydney Dee was 25th at the 2022 State Meet. Mara Düster crossed 38th with Gracie Federspiel 40th. Anna Quillin (55th) and Ashlynn Williams (76th) helped wrap up the third place behind Pella and Ballard of Huxley.
“It’s exciting, almost like the classes are flip flopped. We have six freshman boys and 12 seniors, and it goes the other way with the girls. Yet, it’s just a great makeup of runners who have been working hard all summer. Their leadership qualities show,” reviewed their coach, now entering her 22nd year at Solon. “And they’re just a lot of fun. They came to the first week of practice ready to go! After their state showing last year, I’m excited to see what this season has in store for them.”
As always, the schedule is tough; especially looking at who’s back from place winners last year. Pella’s girls were the Class 3A state champ with 91 team points…. though Ballard (127), Solon (‘128) and Mount Vernon-Lisbon (129) were locked in to the next three slots. “Pella and Ballard will be very strong again this season,” forecasts Williams. “Mount Vernon is right there too.”
Williams points to Marion and Pella on the boys’ side as 3A power squads the Spartans will see frequently on their schedule. ”They’ll give us that measuring stick of ‘where we are’.”
Til then? There are the miles logged for sure… “(but) we are really focusing on their mindset,” emphasizes their coach. “Our training is pretty much the same It is really how they are looking at that mindset at meets, at practice and getting them to believe in themselves. Instead of dreading the practice, they learn to enjoy it. Instead of dreading it with negatives? making it positive.”
The shoe leather hits the turf August 26 when Anamosa hosts a Saturday morning varsity/JV meet. On August 31, Iowa City Regina hosts a meet at the Kickers sports complex. Tipton hosts its invitational meet September 5, at Tipton City Park.