Three Hawks are statebound after finishing in the top-10 of the Iowa City state-qualifying meet on Oct. 21. Greenlee Smock, far left, placed second in 21 flat to advance, James Gruver, middle, took the fourth-place spot in 17:57, and Zach Morningstar grabbed the final and 10th state-qualifying spot with a time of 18:29. The trio of L-S juniors will race at state at Lakeside Golf Course in Fort Dodge’s Kennedy Park on Saturday, Oct. 30. PHOTO BY BRITTNEY HANSEN
Cool weather, a new course, and top competition faced the Lynnville-Sully cross-country team at the state-qualifying meet held in Iowa City on Thursday, Oct. 21. The Hawks rose to the challenge, and by the end of the night, three Hawks punched their tickets to the state meet and several runners ran personal best times.
The girls team took coach Darin Arkema’s goal to heart of “seize the opportunity” and finished in fourth place as a team in their final competition. They were led by junior Greenlee Smock who ran to a runner-up finish, her highest at a state-qualifying meet. She ran the race in 21 minutes flat and will advance to the state meet for the third consecutive year. “She finished the race and said she wasn’t even tired, so somehow she needs to convince herself that she is capable of much faster times,” said coach Arkema. “I know she can do it but we have to get her to believe it and go do it.”
Freshman Olivia Norrish ran a “gutsy” race, holding on to the 10th spot for a large portion of the race. Late in the second mile, Norrish was passed, putting her in 11th place and one spot short of qualifying for state. Despite her phenomenal effort to get in the top-10, Norrish ran a 22:51 for 11th place. “I couldn’t have asked anything more from Olivia as she ran a PR by nearly a minute, which is why she was battling for a state-qualifier spot,” said coach Arkema. “I’m disappointed for her, but excited and proud of what she accomplished.”
The Hawks’ next runner, junior Kendra Fikse, ran a well-paced race to finish in 24:51 for 24th place. This was the first time Fikse ran under 25 minutes.
Senior Callista Hackert wrapped up her high school cross-country career with her best race, according to coach Arkema. She finished in 29th place with a time of 25:13. “It’ so great for her to finish with that performance,” said coach Arkema.
Coming in two seconds behind Hackert was junior Kinsley Tice for 30th place. Coach Arkema said Tice has had some very strong workouts the last three weeks to end the season on.
Freshman Corrina Rozendaal was another Hawk runner setting a personal best record. She finished the race in 26:11 for 43rd place. “I hope this gives her some belief to where she could start next year,” said coach Arkema.
Sophomore Brooke Conover had “one of her better times of the season tonight,” said coach Arkema. She placed 54th with a time of 28:37.
Of the three L-S boys who ran, two finished in the top-10 and will advance to state. The Hawks were led by junior James Gruver, who placed fourth with a time of 17:57. Gruver ran much of the race alone with a 10-15 second gap between running packs ahead and behind him. “He kept pushing himself and worked to make sure he wasn’t caught by anybody at the end,” said coach Arkema. “It was a great fourth-place finish for him behind three ranked runners.” This will be Gruver’s second trip to the state cross-country meet.
Morningstar earned his first state appearance by battling hard to finish in the top-10. According to coach Arkema, the junior kept digging and working his way up with each step. Just past the two-mile mark, Morningstar broke into the top-10, and it was a battle to maintain that spot going into the finish. “To say he was hurting but giving it his all over the last half mile would be an understatement,” said coach Arkema. Morningstar crossed the finish line in 18:29 with other runners battling for that 10th and final state-qualifying spot, and the Hawks had to wait before they found out that 10th spot was indeed his.
Evan Fikse was the last Hawk to post a personal best at the last meet of the junior’s season. He ran a 24:34 for 75th place. Arkema credits the work he put in throughout the year for the great time.
“We are excited for our state qualifiers and for all our team as they will prepare, see, and experience competing in the state meet or cheering for their teammates. We look forward to seeing what kind of times and performances Greenlee, James, and Zach can accomplish,” said coach Arkema.
