Todd Hunt
Falyn Svalstad and Addison Seamans were the first two Lady Spartans across the finish line at North Linn’s Bob Mudd Lynx Invitational Saturday, October 11. Svalstad took third in 19:32.5 while Seamans was fifth in 19:52.3 with PR’s for both as Solon won the varsity girls race.
COGGON — Solon’s cross country teams have battled injury, sickness and inconsistency all season, but with post-season around the corner, the Spartans and Lady Spartans put down clutch performances in Coggon Saturday, October 11, winning the boys’ and girls’ Bob Mudd team titles.
The boys team, crushed with injuries all season, grabbed their first win of the year in a squeaker edging the #15 and #20 ranked Class 3A teams, Vinton-Shellsburg by 11 and runner-up Washington by a point. Sophomore Anders Holmes led the team with a 5th place finish, but senior Rene Meza was the surprise of the day with a personal best 17:14 clocking, only a second behind Holmes to finish 6th. Senior Spencer Michels was next in with a season-best 17:54, good for 13th place. Sophomore Deacon Waddell and freshman Brooks Kabela returned from injuries to round out the scoring placing 17th and 24th. Senior Charlie Pettit placed 33rd and freshman Colton Kolar was 48th.
The wins could have major implications for state qualifier meet seeding which was announced earlier this week. The boys’ and girls’ athletic unions attempt to seed the top 15 ranked boys and girls teams evenly among the state’s 5 Class 3A State Qualifying Meet locations held October 22.
The Lady Spartans also got back to their winning ways, picking up their 3rd team title of 2025. Solon outscored Williamsburg 56-70 to best the 11 team field. Junior Falyn Svalstad (#28 ranked in 3A) led the way with a personal best 19:32 to finish 3rd. Sophomore Addison Seamans and freshman Mailee Schmidt also posted PRs of 19:52 and 20:18 good for 5th and 8th place. Sophomore Livya Nelson was 13th in 20:45 and sophomore Quinn Armentrout grabbed the last scoring spot with a 29th place finish (22:05). Junior Ava Rowles and freshman Stella Beck were close behind in 30th and 34th.
Sophomore Kinley Mai, a huge contributor in 2024, took second in the JV race clocking 22:08, a one minute drop from her race Monday October 6 at Hillcrest Academy. After recovering from a stress fracture in her foot, Mai has put down a couple solid weeks of training and could be the key to Solon’s podium hopes in Fort Dodge at the 2025 State Cross Country Meet.
The Lady Spartans have drifted slowly down the rankings this season, but the girls and boys teams could be on a major upswing with most of their top runners returning to racing at just the right time.
The WaMaC championships take place today, Thursday, October 16, at Seminole Valley Park in Cedar Rapids. The teams are likely to be placed in West Delaware or Williamsburg for their State Qualifying meet October 22.