ANKENY — Solon’s 7th and 8th grade cross country girls won Class 3A team titles Saturday, October 14 at the 30th Iowa Middle School XC Championships in Ankeny.
In 7th grade competition Solon topped the seven-team field with 22 points. North Polk (55), Mount Vernon (65), Ballard (68), Gilbert (77), Sergeant Bluff-Luton (84), and ADM (101) rounded out the field.
Mailee Schmidt was the individual winner in 12:37.0 followed by Kali Poe (7th, 13:32.8), Nora Sanderson (8th, 13:37.6), Keatyn Schnoor (9th, 13:38.9), Elynn Hemann (11th, 13:57.9), and Kennedy Dennison (13th, 14:00.7). Also running were Stella Beck (22nd, 14:28.2), Katherine Rolwes (24th, 14:39.4), and Evelyn Osgood (39th, 15:24.0).
In 8th grade competition Solon topped the six-team field with 21 points followed by Pella (34), Mount Pleasant (40), Bishop Heelan (74), Newton-Berg (81), and Clear Lake (107). Quinn Armentrout was fifth (12:50.6) with Kinley Mai sixth (12:52.4). Livya Nelson (8th, 13:03.2), Addison Seamans (10th, 13:08.4), Kenley Murken (12th, 13:12.0), and Beckitt Kabela (31st, 14:03.8) filled out the point-scoring positions followed by Sydney Kunkel (38th, 14:23.8), and Madelyn McCandless (57th, 15:18.0).
Solon’s 8th grade boys tied for third place in team points with Ballard at 84. Decorah won the 3A Championship with 56 points followed by WaMaC West rival Clear Creek Amana (64). Kaden Recker was fifth in 11:36.2 to lead the Spartans followed by Anders Holmes (9th, 11:38.3), Deacon Waddell (39th, 12:19.7), Preston Raasch (60th, 12:52.5), Caden Brock (86th, 13:47.6), and Will McAtee (88th, 13:52.4).
“We had 46 7th and 8th graders on the team this year,” said Coach Stephanie Hoeper. “26 of them competed in this optional state meet on Saturday and all of them ran their best times of the season. The 8th grade girls were also team champions at the state meet last year. The 7th grade girls’ team was undefeated all season. Mac Svalstad was the first middle school boy to run under two miles in under 11:00 since I’ve been coaching here (2017).”
Solon Middle Schoolers find success at State XC Championship
October 19, 2023
Submitted photo
Solon Middle School cross country runners pose for a selfie with Coach Stephanie Hoeper Saturday, October 14 during the Middle School Championships in Ankeny.
