Six area runners earned all-conference times at the Top of Iowa Conference Cross Country Championships under very windy conditions at NIACC in Mason City on Thursday.
North Butler’s Ezra Almelien crossed inside the top 10 in sixth place in 17:27.1 for all-conference first team honors. Almelien on how his placing aligned with his meet goal and the work of his teammates on the course.
“I came here not worried about time. I was going to try to get top five, that was the goal. I got six. It was a good race with all the wind and everything,” says Almelien. “We placed how we wanted to as a team. Very proud of the team. Next week, we’re going to go out and see what we can do.”
Fellow Bearcat Trager Pecha achieved all-conference honorable mention recognition placing 24th in 18:26.5, as the team placed fourth.
West Fork’s Xavier Haller in his first conference meet placed 21st in 18:24.4 and received all-conference honorable mention. Warhawk teammate Aaron Ihrke also received all-conference honorable mention recognition with a 18:36.1 in 30th place. The Warhawks placed seventh as a team.
West Fork Head Coach Zach Ortloff on how the Warhawks managed pack running and conserving energy during the meet.
“Definitely something we’ve been trying to work on a lot more is just packing up. Trying to get our guys working together a little bit more. Some guys that maybe don’t think they belong a little further up, trying to move them up, and tell them you’re going to stick on this guy’s hip. It’s going to be worth it in the end,” says Ortloff. “Be smart, attack in those spots where you’re going to have the wind at your back. Settle in, try and still push, but don’t overdo it. Don’t work yourself on some of those sections where you’re going to be running into the wind. We’re not just wasting energy. I was really proud of them the way they did that.”
Belmond-Klemme/CGD’s Christopher Greenfield placed 29th in 18:35.4 to reach all-conference honorable mention. The team placed 12th.
In the girls race, Belmond-Klemme/CGD’s Lila Swenson was 15th in 22:05.8 for all-conference second team honors. Swenson on enduring through the wind and running with friends.
“It was pretty windy, so that made it hard, but I pushed through it and I think I did pretty good,” says Swenson. “It’s really fun when you’re running with your close friends and having a great group of people with you all the time. It makes you run faster, I think. Pretty happy about how I did and excited to see where this will take me.”
BK-CGD placed seventh in the team race.
West Fork placed ninth in the team race.
Up next for all three teams is their state qualifying meets next week.
