Colton Alberts wins his first meet title of his senior season against a loaded field of runners at the Mike Carr Invite. He placed first in 16:51 – the fastest finish in both Class A and Class B.
The work it took to get a meet in the midst of a rainy week due to cancellation on Sept. 14 was worth the chaos for the Lynnville-Sully cross-country teams.
The Hawks woke up on Monday, Sept. 10, thinking they would run at Pleasantville Country Club. Due to a rainy forecast, that meet was cancelled at 8:30 a.m., which sent head coach Darin Arkema into a scramble to find a replacement meet for his athletes.
“I am very grateful to AD Paul Evans at Ballard, the Ballard coaches, and meet timer Cal Murdock for accepting us and welcoming us to compete on very late notice the day of the meet.”
“They certainly didn’t have to do that, so we are thankful we got the chance to compete tonight,” said coach Arkema.
Not only were the Hawks grateful to be able to run, they were also grateful for the opportunity to com-pete against top talent on a good course with ideal weather for racing at the 46th Mike Carr Invitational at the Ballard Golf and Country Club.
The Hawks were among runners from 17 teams competing. All of the runners ran together, and later, the finishes were separated into Class A or Class B. Lynnville-Sully was among the Class B schools. The girls team finished fourth with 83 points behind Van Meter (71), Madrid (73), and Pella Christian (77). All three of the teams who finished ahead of L-S are ranked in Class 1A or 2A. Roland Story (98), Woodward-Granger (135), and Iowa Falls-Alden (147) made up the remaining Class B teams in the girls’ field.
Coach Arkema notes the girls’ top-four runners continued to run in a strong pack with only 48 seconds separating them at the finish line.
L-S had four runners finish in the top 15 – senior Emma Parkinson led the Hawks as she has done all season with a seventh-place finish in 21:37. Freshman Kate Arkema was just four seconds behind her, earning eighth place. Coming in ninth was junior Mandeesa Vos who clocked in at 21:50. Senior Peyton Sharp grabbed 14th place with her 22:25 race. Placing 67th with a time of 27:51 was junior Addison Van Soelen. The Hawks were without freshman Keely Van Soelen due to illness.
“I know Van Meter and Madrid were both without one of their top runners, but we were missing someone too so finishing just 12 points out of first is an indication to how strong our team is,” said coach Arkema.
The boys toed the finish line next. As a team, the Hawks finished in fourth with 110 points behind Pella Christian (35), Nodaway Valley (89), and Iowa Falls-Alden (106). The Hawks were racing on Monday without senior Keegan Schnell.
Senior Colton Alberts continues to impress. “Colton made a move near the midway point of the race to take over the lead. He didn’t just move to the front barely ahead of the others, he made some space and ran away,” said coach Arkema.
Alberts’ strong run led to his first individual victory of the season. He crossed the finish line first in a time of 16:51 – breaking the 17-minute mark for the first time this season. His time was good for first in the Class B race, and he would have placed first in Class A as well by a good nine seconds.
The Hawks’ second runner, senior Blake Wilmesmeier, positioned himself with the lead pack for much of the race. According to coach Arkema, he ran a strong hill in the final quarter mile to claim sixth place in 17:24 – his best time of the season.
Next in for the Hawks was senior Sam Terlouw who, according to coach Arkema, “definitely stepped up tonight.” Terlouw notched 33rd place in 19:06. Junior Madden Gunsaulus was one second behind him for 34th place in 19:07. Another standout race belonged to senior Evan Arkema who got into the low 19s for the first time, crossing the finish line in 19:21 for 37th place. Coach Arkema calls freshman Micah McVey’s performance on Monday his “breakout race.” McVey finished as the Hawks’ sixth runner and finished in 20:37 for 55th place, his first time finishing under 21 minutes. Junior Andrew Arkema battled all the way to the finish line, overcoming illness for a 21:34 finish for 67th place.
Sophomore Hayden Lewis clocked in at 21:54 for 55th place. Nikolai Van Wyk, a junior, came in 112th in 24:15. Freshman Tyler Conover finished in 26:36 for 140th place.
The Hawks were off until Tuesday, Sept. 22, when they were initially scheduled to run at the West Marshall XC Invite at Lincoln Valley Golf in State Center. Due to Monday’s rainy weather, officials postponed that meet to next Tuesday, Sept. 29. The Hawks were able to get added to the Steve McDermott Invitational on Tuesday, Sept. 22, at Newton’s Maytag Park, weather permitting.
