Several local student-athletes punched their tickets to the state cross country meet at Thursday’s state qualifying meets in Classes 2A and 1A.
At the 2A qualifier at Oelwein, Aplington-Parkersburg senior Quinnlyn Schultz placed 10th in 21:08 to advance to the state meet for the first time.
“It’s just so emotional. Like I just didn’t think in all my four years that this would be the year,” Schultz says. “It’s just been such a fun year. We’ve had such a fun group and I’m just so thankful to have my family here watching. And we just have such an awesome community that comes out 40 minutes away from home to a crappy 4:00 start time and not the best weather. So just kudos to everyone. And it’s such an encouraging sport. And it was so awesome to see some of my favorite friends and favorite family here to watch.”
Dike-New Hartford senior Bryan Munguia-Chavez had to wait to learn whether he qualified after finishing in 17:58. He initially placed 15th to automatically qualify. But after a review, he slid to 16th. However, due to the rule that a minimum of five individuals from non-qualifying teams must advance to the state meet, he made it in as the last individual qualifier. Munguia-Chavez accomplished the feat in his second season on the team.
“It started off to me, I felt pretty heavy. I didn’t feel the best, but it’s one of those races that you just gotta grit it out and just find your true character and let your heart take you to the finish line,” Munguia-Chavez says. “I was behind these Forest City kids and I honestly gave up on myself at the second mile, but just hearing my teammates cheer me on, my coaches, it made me find an extra gear and made sure to kick it in and make it to the finish line.”
At the 2A qualifier at Pella Christian, Grundy Center junior Grace Storjohann placed fifth in the girls race in 20:01 to qualify individually. In the boys race, Spartan junior Emerson Vokes won the race in 15:47 to qualify after placing second in Class 1A last season. He’ll be joined by freshman teammate Jayce Fryslie, who placed 13th in 17:51.
At the 1A qualifier at Central Springs, North Butler sophomore Ezra Almelien placed 10th in the boys race in 17:42, qualifying for the second straight year.
The Class 2A and 1A state races will be Saturday, November 2 at Kennedy Park in Fort Dodge.
Quinnlyn Schultz interview:
Bryan Munguia-Chavez interview:
