That’s mental toughness. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is Quinton Grove.

With a Class 2A state title no longer in the cards, Grove battled until the very end of the 5,000-meter race at Saturday’s state cross country meet. And when he rounded the last tree and sprinted down the final straightaway, he emptied the tank one final time at Lakeside Golf Course.

With a pair of competitors breathing down his neck as the finish line approached, Grove maintained his position in ninth place to earn his second straight podium finish and all-state accolade. He was also ninth in 2018 when South Hamilton competed in the 1A field.

“It’s a good way to go out,” Grove said after he navigated the course on a cold and blustery day in 16 minutes, 41.2 seconds. “Getting on the podium, just in general, is fun and a good accomplishment. You always wish you could have done better until you get first. I wasn’t able to do it (on Saturday),” but that’s OK.”

South Hamilton’s Quinton Grove (right) sprints the final few meters of his high school career at Saturday’s state meet in Fort Dodge. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

A four-time state qualifier — one of only two in school history — and the leader of the Hawks’ 2018 third-place team finish, Grove exits as South Hamilton’s most accomplished boys cross country runner. In addition to his state-meet exploits, he also holds the school record of 16:24, set at the State Qualifying Meet in Dike late last month.

Go ahead, call him the South Hamilton GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) if you want. It’s doubtful anyone will argue.

Grove wanted to win a state title, or at least contend for the gold medal on Saturday. But the lead pack of Camanche’s Dylan Darsidan, Bellevue’s Brady Griebel and Tipton’s Caleb Shumaker slowly pulled away on the back of the course. By the 21⁄2-mile mark, Grove knew the gap was too wide.

“It’s very tough to get back up there once you let them go,” Grove said. “At the mile and a half mark is where I really felt they started slipping more than I wanted to, but I still felt like I could get to them. It didn’t really hit me until 21⁄2 miles, that’s when I knew.”

River Valley Conference rivals who are all juniors, Darsidan, Griebel and Shumaker turned it into a three-man race over the final 800 meters. It was Darsidan, who was third among the trio at the state qualifier, that possessed the gold-medal kick, as he claimed his first state crown in 16:02.0. Griebel was second in 16:02.8, followed by Shumaker in 16:11.4.

An exhausted Quinton Grove crouches moments after he placed ninth in the Class 2A race at Saturday’s state meet in Fort Dodge. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

Grove had eighth-place finisher Carson Shively of Davis County in his sights as the next wave darted towards the finish line. But Shively was able to maintain his two-step lead for the spot in 16:40.7.

“I was able to come down the straightaway with all I had left like I said I wanted to, so it was a good way to finish it out,” Grove said.

With 137 runners jammed into the field, Grove knew a fast start was imperative. He sprinted towards the front as the gun went off and ran with a large pack, just a few steps behind early leader and eventual seventh-place finisher Lake LeBahn of Union over the first mile.

“I got out like I planned, but my arms were getting cold halfway through,” Grove said. “I don’t know if that slowed me down or got in my head, but gloves or none of that would have helped. It was just a fluke deal.”

Still, walking onto the deck to collect a second state medal was a fitting end for a career that is now the gold standard for future South Hamilton runners to try to chase down.

South Hamilton senior Quinton Grove (center) poses for the crowd with his ninth-place medal around his neck following his performance in Class 2A at Saturday’s state cross country meet in Fort Dodge. He turned in a time of 16:41.2 DFJ photo/Troy Banning

“All of his hard work has paid off,” South Hamilton head coach Emily Bochmann said. “He’s put in so much time and effort to get ready.”

It was Grove’s fastest performance among his four state races. He turned in a 17:42.10 to place 51st as a freshman and a 17:17.10 en route to 25th as a sophomore. His ninth-place time in 2018 was 16:47.60.

A large fan section was waiting for Grove as he exited the finish line area. Long embraces with his parents, Julie and Mike, were followed by plenty more hugs as he made the short walk back to his camp. He was able to maintain his composure as he reflected on his career.

“I’m thankful and blessed,” Grove said. “I’ve been blessed with a gift from God and it felt good to know I could work even harder and progress myself.”

Bochmann says Grove’s value was much greater than the high places he achieved each time he stepped onto the course.

Quinton Grove heads down the course during the first mile of the Class 2A race on Saturday. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

“He has a quiet pride,” she said. “He’s not necessarily going to say a lot, but you can tell in the way he carries himself that he’s going to put the team first and he’s going to push them. He’s not necessarily going to be in their face about it, but he’s going to lead by example.

“I’ve already told him to come back and help coach us anytime. Come back and give the boys advice. They’d love to hear from him after he graduates.”

A four-sport athlete, Grove still has a lot left he wants to accomplish before he dons the cap and gown in May. And that starts, well, today.

“I guess now it’s time to pick up a basketball,” he said.

State Cross Country Meet

Quinton Grove reacts after placing ninth in Class 2A at the state cross country meet in Fort Dodge. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

Saturday at Lakeside Golf Course

Fort Dodge

BOYS RESULTS

Class 4A

Team Standings

1. WDM Dowling 87; 2. Pleasant Valley 96; 3. Dubuque Hempstead 100; 4. Johnston 135; 5. Sioux City North 160; 6. CR Prairie 188; 7. Cedar Falls 194; 8. Iowa City West 206; 9. Southeast Polk 220; 10. Iowa City Liberty 254; 11. Ames 262; 12. Waukee 281; 13. Urbandale 286; 14. CR Kennedy 290; 15. Linn-Mar 302.

Individual Top 10

1. Max Murphy (Pl. Valley) 15:29.3; 2. Sam Hall (Dowling) 15:29.5; 3. Jacob Green (CR Kennedy) 15:35.0; 4. Kent Nichols (Pl. Valley) 15:46.1; 5. Drake Hanson (SE Polk) 15:46.1; 6. Ryan Winger (Dub. Hemp.) 15:48.6; 7. Jack Pendergast (CR Prairie) 15:53.0; 8. Owen Maloney (Dub. Hemp.) 15:53.5; 9. Jaysen Bouwers (SC North) 15:54.3; 10. Max Locher (CR Washington) 15:57.1.

Class 3A

Team Standings

1. Dallas Center-Grimes 109; 2. Clear Creek-Amana 110; 3. Center Point-Urbana 127; 4. Dubuque Wahlert 156; 5. Marion 174; 6. Gilbert 179; 7. Carlisle 179; 8. Decorah 188; 9. Norwalk 208; 10. Pella 225; 11. North Polk 236; 12. Humboldt 243; 13. Waverly-Shell Rock 265; 14. Atlantic 280; 15. Grinnell 288.

Individual Top 10

1. Nate Mueller (ADM) 15:45.7; 2. Quinton Orr (Humboldt) 15:52.1; 3. Eli Larson (CP-Urbana) 16:09.0; 4. Brady Hogan (Decorah) 16:15.4; 5. Aidan Ramsey (DC-Grimes) 16:19.9; 6. Josiah Wittenberg (Pella) 16:21.2; 7. Trey Gross (Harlan) 16:23.1; 8. Bradley Ramsey (DC-Grimes) 16:25.2; 9. Luke Post (CP-Urbana) 16:27.0; 10. Jacob Storey (DC-Grimes) 16:28.3.

Class 2A

Team Standings

1. Tipton 78; 2. Des Moines Christian 82; 3. Monticello 106; 4. Albia 151; 5. Davis County 174; 6. Danville-New London 183; 7. Williamsburg 186; 8. South Hardin 200; 9. Camanche 237; 10. Grundy Center/Gladbrook-Reinbeck 239; 11. Western Christian 253; 12. Okoboji 257; 13. North Fayette Valley 279; 14. George-Little Rock/Central Lyon 307; 15. Treynor 307.

Individual Top 10

1. Dylan Darsidan (Camanche) 16:02.0; 2. Brady Griebel (Bellevue) 16:02.8; 3. Caleb Shumaker (Tipton) 16:11.4; 4. Louden Foster (WC Valley) 16:25.2; 5. Cody Smith (DM Christian) 16:28.0; 6. Tage Hulstein (W. Christian) 16:34.0; 7. Lake LeBahn (Union) 16:37.4; 8. Carson Shively (Davis Co.) 16:40.7; 9. Quinton Grove (South Hamilton) 16:41.2; 10. Harrison Ahlrichs (Monticello) 16:42.3.

Class 1A

Team Standings

1. Madrid 74; 2. Nodaway Valley 107; 3. Calamus-Wheatland 118; 4. Earlham 119; 5. Maquoketa Valley 209; 6. Denver 211; 7. CB St. Albert 215; 8. South Winneshiek 223; 9. West Fork 223; 10. Pekin 227; 11. Tri-Center 232; 12. Ogden 247; 13. LeMars Gehlen 254; 14. Mason City Newman 260; 15. Saint Ansgar 303.

Individual Top 10

1. Joshua Baudler (Nod. Valley) 16:11; 2. Noah Jorgenson (Sidney) 16:25; 3. Jason Renze (Madrid) 16:28; 4. Bennett Heisterkamp (CB St. Albert) 16:33; 5. Randy Jimenez (SE Warren) 16:37; 6. Brady Milliken (Pekin) 16:39; 7. Jayden Dickson (Earlham) 16:39; 8. Garrett Buxton (Ogden) 16:40; 9. Will Roder (Gehlen) 16:40; 10. Chase Knoche (Cal-Wheat) 16:41.

GIRLS RESULTS

Class 4A

Team Standings

1. Johnston 56; 2. Dubuque Senior 88; 3. Linn-Mar 119; 4. Waukee 138; 5. Southeast Polk 144; 6. WDM Valley 200; 7. Dubuque Hempstead 202; 8. CR Prairie 218; 9. Iowa City High 223; 10. WDM Dowling 247; 11. Urbandale 248; 12. Western Dubuque 252; 13. SC East 279; 14. Bettendorf 304; 15. Indianola 357.

Individual Top 10

1. Camille Jackson (Ames) 17:23.9; 2. Ashlyn Kenney (IC Liberty) 17:44.1; 3. Lillian Schmidt (Dub. Senior) 18:07.6; 4. Micah Poellet (Linn-Mar) 18:18.9; 5. Bella Heikes (Johnston) 18:31.4; 6. Kaia Downs (SC East) 18:38.8; 7. Claire Edmondson (Dub. Senior) 18:39.7; 8. Aleah Tenpas (Johnston) 18:41.0; 9. Alli Bookin-Nosbisch (Ottumwa) 18:48.1; 10. Samantha Strauss (Johnston) 18:48.1.

Class 3A

Team Standings

1. Ballard 57; 2. Dallas Center-Grimes 80; 3. Dubuque Wahlert 125; 4. Harlan 168; 5. SC Heelan 193; 6. Center Point-Urbana 198; 7. Solon 227; 8. Pella 236; 9. Decorah 240; 10. Grinnell 240; 11. Spencer 245; 12. Norwalk 255; 13. Charles City 269; 14. Glenwood 308; 15. ADM 321.

Individual Top 10

1. Adrianna Katcher (CP-Urbana) 18:29.4; 2. Shewaye Johnson (Ballard) 18:40.3; 3. Paityn Noe (Ballard) 18:44.4; 4. Megan Sterbenz (DC-Grimes) 18:45.7; 5. Norah Pearson (Knoxville) 18:46.1; 6. Amber Aesoph (SC Heelan) 18:49.9; 7. Abby Ryon (Mt. Pleasant) 18:55.3; 8. Kiki Connell (Charles City) 18:57.4; 9. Emma Hoins (Waverly-SR) 19:07.3; 10. Ellie Meyer (IF-Alden/AGWSR) 19:10.7.

Class 2A

Team Standings

1. Mid-Prairie 61; 2. Williamsburg 62; 3. Monticello 130; 4. Jesup 169; 5. Adair-Casey/Guthrie Center) 169; 6. Starmont 179; 7. Woodbury Central/Kingsley-Pierson 179; 8. Unity Christian 191; 9. Davis County 196; 10. Cherokee 242; 11. Dike-New Hartford 261; 12. Waukon 262; 13. Tipton 320; 14. Emmetsburg 373; 15. Chariton 391.

Individual Top 10

1. Marie Hostetler (Mid-Prairie) 17:58.2; 2. Emily Staal (Springville-Central City) 18:39.3; 3. Kate Crawford (ACGC) 19:05.9; 4. Grace Schaefer (Williamsburg) 19:11.4; 5. Ella Waddle (Panorama) 19:19.9; 6. Addison Parrott (Danville-New London) 19:20.1; 7. Kenna Meisgeier (Starmont) 19:20.3; 8. Emma Althoff (Monticello) 19:22.5; 9. Amanda Treptow (Jesup) 19:28.0; 10. Jimena Fierro Perez (W. Liberty) 19:39.4.

Class 1A

Team Standings

1. Logan-Magnolia 112; 2. Hudson 133; 3. AHSTW 142; 4. Aplington-Parkersburg 146; 5. IC Regina 150; 6. Kee 164; 7. Denver 183; 8. Nodaway Valley 198; 9. Pekin 211; 10. Van Meter 215; 11. Manson-NW Webster 233; 12. Madrid 241; 13. Sumner-Fredericksburg 270; 14. FD St. Edmond 277; 15. Prince of Peace 289.

Individual Top 10

1. Peyton Pogge (Tri-Center) 18:45.4; 2. Haley Meyer (Kee) 18:51.4; 3. Jalyssa Blazek (Turkey Valley) 18:54.0; 4. Sophia Jungling (Ap-Parkersburg) 18:54.3; 5. Billie Wagner (S. Winneshiek) 19:02.6; 6. Grace Beck (Denver) 19:39.3; 7. Rylee Dunkin (Twin Cedars) 19:43.1; 8. Ryann Portch (AHSTW) 19:47.7; 9. Maddie Moline (Man-NW Web) 19:48.2; 10. Greenlee Smock (Lynnville-Sully) 19:49.2.

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