Three Lynnville-Sully Cross-Country members – junior Hendrick Lowry, freshman Colton Alberts, and junior Olivia Norrish – punched their ticket to the State Cross-Country Meet after placing in the top ten at the District Meet at Central Decatur in Leon on Thursday, Oct. 19.
The Hawks had some advantage at the District Meet given they ran the same course last season. “We worked a lot the last three to four weeks on our hill running technique, both uphill and downhill, as that was going to be a huge factor in our conference meet and once we learned we would be back to this course,” said coach Darin Arkema.
That work paid off as several personal records and season bests were run, showing the determination and grit the Hawks have displayed all season long.
In the girls race, Norrish got out quick at the firing of the gun, connecting with the top-10 pack early in the race. She crossed the finish line 50 seconds fast than her race at this course last year and became a state qualifier for the second year in a row. Norrish finished in eighth place with a time of 20:27.
Freshman Peyton Sharp got out similarly early in the race, even taking the lead of the top-10 pack for a while. At the second mile, she struggled to get back in contact with the main group. In the last quarter mile, and especially in the last 100 meters, she was within reach of being an individual state qualifier, but ultimately finished less than two seconds behind 10th place for 11th place overall in a time of 20:45.
Freshman Emma Parkinson ran a consistent race from beginning to the end. “She just kept gaining ground, passing competitors, and working her way into the top 20, then into the teens, and approaching the top-10,” commented Arkema. She finished in the top-15, grabbing 13th place, in 20:52.
Senior Brooke Conover ran a personal record time, concluding her high school career with a 25:26 finish to place 51st.
Ines Save stepped up at the last minute to compete and support the team. She placed 72nd in a time of 34:24. When teammate Helle Ausgustinussen experienced pain during warm-ups, Save said she would run despite being out several weeks with an injury suffered earlier in the season. “Ines said she would try to run, no guarantees, but wanted to do what she could so that the girls could at least get a team score. I and I know the other girls appreciated that so much. She hadn’t raced in weeks but was able to run for most of the course and help contribute so the girls could earn fourth place as a team,” said Arkema. The girls collected 113 points behind Madrid (35), Martensdale-St. Marys (56), and Central Decatur (82). L-S placed fourth out of eight teams.
On Thursday, Lowry erased any disappointment from last year’s state-qualifying meet, where he finished one spot short of being an individual state qualifier. The junior left no doubt he was running in Fort Dodge as he cruised to a sixth-place finish and state qualifi-cation in 17:15. Lowry’s time was a 40-second improvement from last season on the same course.
Coaches Anna and Darin Arkema flank state qualifiers Olivia Norrish, Colton Alberts, and Hendrick Lowry.
When he did not find himself in the top-10 or 20 early in the race, Alberts didn’t get alarmed, but instead stayed focused on his end goal. “He nailed the downhills on this course to gain multiple places each and every downhill,” said coach Arkema. Alberts was in the top-10 in a personal-best time of 17:29. According to coach Arkema, Alberts is the first freshman male at L-S to qualify individually for the state cross-country meet.
Freshman Blake Wilmesmeier and sophomore Ethan Dunsbergen stuck together for much of the race to finish in 35th and 39th place, clocking times of 19:24 and 19:52. Dunsbergen ran over a minute and a half faster than his time last year.
Freshman Evan Arkema was spot on to get a new personal record and finished 52nd in 20:41. Freshman Jordan Dunsbergen was close behind in a time of 21:05 to place 56th. Sophomore Will Conover finished in a time of 26:31, earning a new personal record.
The boys team placed fifth with 135 points, behind Ankeny Christian Aca-demy (50), Madrid (65), Martensdale-St. Marys (72), and Nodaway Valley (100).
The three state qualifiers – Norrish, Lowry, and Alberts – will run at Kennedy Park and Lakeside Golf Course in Fort Dodge on Friday, Oct. 27. The girls race starts at 2 p.m., and the boys race will follow at 2:45 p.m.
