FORT DODGE — Wintry winds and temperatures in the 30s greeted Solon runners as they warmed up for the start of the 2023 Class 3A cross country championships last Saturday in Fort Dodge. Still, in a season with temperatures ranging into the upper 80s on race days, it was just another chance to put their best on the line.
By then, the Spartans and Lady Spartans had outlasted most of this season’s opponents. Their State Meet efforts continued the string of ‘top ten’ finishes for each Solon team before arriving at the winding Kennedy Park golf course in past years.
Solon finished seventh in the boys’ team race with 215 points. Leading the 3A pack this year, Gilbert and Pella ran 1-2. Solon boys ran 11th in 2022 and were fifth in 2021. “It was just a great way to end their season,” reviewed head coach Emy Williams. “The start wasn’t quite where I would have wanted it, but they really moved in that second mile and third mile; just a good way to end their season. When you stop and think about it, it’s pretty amazing.”
Solon was eighth this year In the girls’ race with 215 points. Pella won the 3A championship with 80 with Mount Vernon-Lisbon runner-up at 129 among the 15 schools advancing out of their regional qualifiers. For Solon’s recent past, there is a third place finish last year and the 3A title in 2021. “Great way to end their seasons, both the boys and girls,” said Williams. “When you stop and think about it, that’s pretty amazing. It’s about the journey they made.”
The boys had five seniors among their seven runners at State. “We are really going to miss them next year,” admits Williams. “This group of seniors is going to be hard to replace. But I think the freshmen, sophomores and juniors are ready to fill their shoes and to get back here and compete again.”
And the girls? Two seniors from the state lineup will be gone, as will several others who have been in and out of the varsity lineup over the last couple years. “I think they have been in the top ten, probably the top five, in three of their four years,” concluded Williams. “Super proud of all of them and how they ran today!”
Junior Sydney Dee led the Solon girls with 18th place running 19:31. Freshman Falyn Svalstad (20:04, 44th) was next across. Then came senior Anna Quillin (20:07, 48th), junior Ella Sheeley (20:58, 92nd), with freshman Ava Rolwes (21:17), senior Gracie Federspiel (21:20) and Rose McAtee (21:34)
“I had a really great season,” recalls Quillin, a four-year runner at State. “(With) big goals for myself. And running with these teammates, a lot of races this season I was proud of it. I’ll keep those in mind.”
Among the boys, it was also a fourth trip to Fort Dodge, for Brick Kabela, who was ranked among the top five to 15 or so 3A boys all season. He finished 18th (16:25) at State. “Nothing more exciting than bringing your whole team. Just an awesome experience (and) to be with amazing people on this team; great teammates and coaches,” he recalls. “A great season. I’m proud of how I did this season.”
Along with him, in the state meet field this year were Michael Yeomans (17:05, 57th), Evan Burg (17:13, 70th), Grant Bumsted (17:14, 71st) , Spencer Michels (17:16), Collin Bumsted 17:34), and Lawsin Sinnwell (17:39).
Coach Emy Williams recognized
Besides coaching both teams through another season and on to the October 28 State Meet, Solon head coach Emy Williams took home some ‘hardware’ of her own after the Class 3A awards presentation. Coaching at her ‘alma mater’ since 2002, her girls’ teams have made it to State 16 times, and her boys seven.
With the success which followed, that rated presentation of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union’s Golden Plaque of Distinction. The award honors the Iowa coach demonstrating a successful career while making notable contributions toward school, community, and the coaching profession.
“It was just an honor to receive the award,” says Williams. “I love what I do and I’m blessed that I get to do it year in and year out with some great people, great coaches supporting me, my family, and then of course the runners I get to coach. So, it’s great to be honored with something like that, but a lot of people are behind that award, it’s not just me!”
Her girls’ teams have placed in the top three four times and won a state championship in 2021. The boys’ have placed in the top three twice and have a 2022 state runner-up finish. She’s also been WaMaC coach of the year, 3A Girls and Boys At large coach of the year, and the Des Moines Register All Iowa Cross Country coach of the year.
Gracie Federspiel, Sydney Dee and Anna Quillin relax at the finish line of the 2023 Class 3A Cross country state meet. For Quillin, this was her fourth appearance in the State Meet.