With a high heat index, and nearly 3.5-mile course, the Iola High cross country team did not let the odds stack against them.
The varsity boys came away with a first-place finish for the second consecutive week, and the girls followed with silver just behind Anderson County.
The Mustangs were led by Jack Adams, who finished first with a time of 20:01 to stay perfect on the season. Every Mustang runner finished in the top 15, with Kaster Trabuc in ninth (21:41), Elijah Fawson 10th (21:59), Nathan Louk 13th (22:22), Jesse Taylor 14th (22:40), and Riley Jay 15th (22:46).
Jay has been the number-two runner for the Mustangs this season, but was unable to compete at peak performance due to illness. Head coach Marv Smith said Jays family traveled a distance to see him run, so the Mustang gave it his all. Although Jays performance was not calculated in the team score, the number-six runner is used as a tiebreaker, and Jay placed 15th, while Anderson Countys number six placed 21st.
We competed without Brett Morrison, Smith said. He has missed several days of practice, but we ran him in the JV race. He still could not get through the race after running third in the early stages.
On the girls side, it was another strong performance from Rachel Bycroft, who finished in fourth (26:34). Bycroft has taken on the role as the Fillies number-one runner this season with complete confidence. All Fillies runners finished in the top 20, with Kelsey Morrison in seventh (27:53), Ella Taylor 12th (28:53), Elanie Sturgeon 14th (28:50), Audrey Coltrane 16th (25:55), and Averie Sharon 17th (29:48).
The Fillies were without their number-two runner, Josie Plumlee, who picked up an illness on Wednesday and was unable to complete the race.
We are battling with illness and leg injuries, Smith said. Several of our boys are having a lot of leg soreness associated with their weight lifting class.
Looking forward, the key for Iola will be to get healthy. Despite the adverse situations, both the Mustang and Fillie runners are still competing at their normal high standard.
JV
Their were no scores for either the boys or girls JV races. For the boys, despite not completing the race at full steam, Brett Morrison led the Mustangs with a 25th place finish. Colin Long came in 27th (28:40), Luke Wicoff 33rd (29:47), Travis Wanker 34th (29:49), and Eli Smith 56th (35:29).
The Fillies had all runners place in the top 25. Callie Murcko led the way in 8th (37:59), and her sister Jorja followed placing 10th (38:23). Others competing on the blue and gold were Elaina Stiffler coming in 12th (38:44), Elsie Flemming 17th (40:18), and Kaylin Klunek 21st (43:24).
Humboldt
The Cubs participated in Wellsville on Thursday evening. Representing the orange and black for the seventh-grade girls division was McKenna Jones, who placed 15th with a time of 15:38.22 in the two-mile race. For the boys, Asher Hart came in 75th (16:33.22), and Jaryt Hess 85th (17:04.22).
The JV girls had three runners compete, with Bri Baker leading the way for Humboldt finishing 31st (29:38.82). Also competing for the Lady Cubs were Winter Snyder in 42nd (30:57.35), and Brookllen Gardner 59th (40:18.57). Peyton Wallace was the solo runner for the boys in the JV race, coming in 54th and a finishing time of 25:03.70.
Both the varsity boys and girls are still looking to find their rhythm in the early stages of the season. The Lady Cubs came in eighth of the nine teams participating. Elizabeth was the fastest runner for the second straight meet in a row for the Lady Cubs, placing 43rd (25:48). Also Participating for the Lady Cubs were Melina Hess in 46th (25:05.74), Leah Mueller 49th (26:41.70), Zoey Wilson 56th (28:01.47), Sarah Anderson 67th (29:53.46), and Peyten Galloway 72nd (31:13.31).
The boys placed 10th out of the 11 teams running in Wellsville. Drew Wilhite continued to be Humboldts number-one runner, placing 17th (19:33.92). Luke Yokum followed finishing 41st with a time of 20:35.16. Others competing for the Cubs were Sam Neely in 69th (22:39.72), Javyn Hess 71st (22:55.47), and Cooper Woods 81st (27:33.81).
