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Gaels, Lions win NCC titles behind youngsters

Both Lynx teams 7th, Reiling and Peck lead the way

Webster City’s Cole Reiling nears the finish line at the 50th North Central Conference cross country meet on Tuesday in Goldfield. His 12th place finish was the best on the team. Messenger photo/Britt Kudla

GOLDFIELD — Youth, youth and more youth were the keys to success at the 50th running of the North Central Conference cross country meet Tuesday evening at Oak Ridge Golf Course.

The younger a team was, the better it seemingly did, particularly near the top of the standings.

With one freshman, three sophomores and one junior in its scoring five, fifth-ranked (Class 1A) St. Edmond claimed its second straight girls’ team title with 61 points, just a three-point edge over runner-up and 13th-ranked (2A) Clear Lake, which was led by a pair of rookies and possessed a lineup that will return intact a year from now.

Lions’ freshman Addison Doughan was the first runner to the finish line in 19:35, as she picked up the individual gold medal over runner-up Teah Miller (19:55) of Iowa Falls-Alden/AGWSR by 20 seconds. Among the top-10 finishers, there were three freshmen, three sophomores and four juniors.

On the boys’ side, No. 8-ranked (2A) Clear Lake ended Humboldt’s three-year run atop the standings with six competitors that are juniors. The Lions dominated the field with 31 points, while Humboldt settled for second with 75.

WCHS junior Emma Peck competes in the NCC meet Tuesday in Goldfield. She placed 17th overall to lead the Lynx girls’ team. Messenger photo/Britt Kudla

“Clear Lake is really strong,” Webster City head coach Derek Turner said. “They have a ton of kids out and a ton of talent, and they’re going to be really good for years to come.”

St. Edmond junior Aaron Lursen won his first individual league crown in 17:08, 11 seconds in front of Algona junior and runner-up Ryan Stundahl (17:19). Of the top 10 finishers, seven will return in 2022.

WCHS had no grand illusions that it would contend for conference titles, as both of its teams finished seventh out of the eight teams in the field. The Lynx girls’ squad tallied 189 points, while the boys’ team exited the course strapped with 151 points.

Turner knew it was going to be a difficult challenge, particularly as his squads dealt with illness and injury. Jose Ramirez, the boys’ leader all season, and No. 2 girls’ runner Jacie Crutcher were both under the weather and it took a toll on their performances.

Still, Turner liked the fight that his crews showed.

WCHS senior Jose Ramirez (right) stays focused on the path ahead during Tuesday’s NCC meet in Goldfield. He placed 15th. Messenger photo/Britt Kudla

“It’s really tough. It’s like you’re going into a basketball game knowing you’re going to lose, but (the athletes) have had really good attitudes and they really enjoy being with each other,” Turner said. “All of them put their best foot forward every meet and I’m really happy with the group of people I have to work with.”

Ramirez’s illness allowed Cole Reiling to step to the forefront for the Lynx and he put together his best race of the season to finish 12th overall in 18:16. Ramirez gutted it out over three-plus miles and still managed to place 15th in 18:29.

“Cole had a really good race. I was really proud of the way he competed,” Turner said. “Jose toughed it out and still had one of his best times of the season.”

Sam Moberly hung back in 33rd with a time of 19:45 to serve as the Lynx No. 3 runner. Adison Rahe (20:43) took 45th and Owen Patterson (21:10) followed shortly after in the 46th position.

Emma Peck maintained her stranglehold on the first position for the WCHS girls’ team, as her clocking of 23:02 was good enough for 17th place. Karina Murray, a freshman, picked up the slack for the ailing Crutcher by moving into the No. 2 role and her time of 25:21 placed 39th. Crutcher came across in 25:57 for 43rd, one spot in front of teammate Aryana Toftee (26:54), another freshman.

WCHS senior Jacie Crutcher (left) works to stay in front of freshman teammate Karina Murray (center) at Tuesday’s HOIC meet in Goldfield. Murray eventually moved past and placed 39th overall, while Crutcher went through the finishing chute in the 43rd position at Oak Ridge Golf Course. Messenger photo/Britt Kudla

“Aryana, at the beginning the year was running 36 minutes for her 5K, so to get it down to 26:54 was a (personal record) by a long shot,” Turner said. “Karina ran her PR as well, so I’m really happy with those results.”

WCHS was without varsity regulars Allison Oswald and Carly Appel. Oswald is still trying to get back into shape after illness and Appel has been sidelined due to injury.

“We are just extremely limited right now,” Turner said. “But I can’t complain one bit with the results.”

Brynna Croy (27:34) was 46th to round out the Lynx scoring.

Lynx MS boys 3rd

The Webster City boys’ middle school team placed third behind Clear Lake and Algona at Tuesday’s North Central Conference cross country meet in Goldfield. The Lynx finished with 74 points.

Justin Callahan and Jackson Barner both ran near the front of the field. Callahan came across in fourth with a time of 12:45, while Barner secured sixth place in 12:51.

NCC Meet

Tuesday at Goldfield

GIRLS

Team Standings

1. St. Edmond 61; 2. Clear Lake 64; 3. Humboldt 74; 4. Iowa Falls-Alden/AGWSR 92; 5. Algona 110; 6. Hampton-Dumont/CAL 120; 7. Webster City 189; 8. Clarion-Goldfield-Dows 232.

Individual All-Conference (Top 8)

1. Addison Doughan (CL) 19:35; 2. Teah Miller (IFA) 19:55; 3. Abby Harding (IFA) 19:58; 4. Moriah Knapp (ALG) 20:21; 5. Lydia Maas (HDC) 21:10; 6. Reese Brownlee (CL) 21:17; 7. Michaela Leiting (SE) 21:18; 8. Hannah Landwehr (SE) 21:43.

Webster City Results

17. Emma Peck 23:02; 39. Karina Murray 25:21; 43. Jacie Crutcher 25:57; 44. Aryana Toftee 26:54; 46. Brynna Croy 27:34; 47. Adalie Peterson 27:37; 52. Natalie Eggers 30:31.

BOYS

Team Standings

1. Clear Lake 31; 2. Humboldt 75; 3. St. Edmond 83; 4. Algona 94; 5. Hampton-Dumont/CAL 138; 6. Iowa Falls-Alden/AGWSR 141; 7. Webster City 151; 8. Clarion-Goldfield-Dows 223.

Individual All-Conference (Top 8)

1. Aaron Lursen (SE) 17:08; 2. Ryan Stundahl (ALG) 17:19; 3. Jack Crane (CL) 17:23; 4. Trevor Jacobson (HUM) 17:32; 5. Leo Tolentino (CL) 17:40; 6. Joe Faber (CL) 17:49; 7. Jackson Chambers (HUM) 17:54; 8. Christopher Molander (CL) 18:01.

Webster City Results

12. Cole Reiling 18:16, 15. Jose Ramirez 18:29; 33. Sam Moberly 19:45; 45. Adison Rahe 20:43; 46. Owen Patterson 21:10; 49. Gabe Rollins 21:38; 55. Aiden Rollins 23:01.

Other Webster City Results

JV Girls

22. Caroline Ehn 33:50.

JV Boys

38. Riley Jensen 23:14; 56. Landon Crawford 29:55; 59. Derek Carr 33:45.

Middle School Girls

12. Izzy Grostheme 16:18; 43. Alaina Powgnas 24:31.

Middle School Boys

4. Justin Callahan 12:45; 6. Jackson Barner 12:51; 21. Ivan Lopez 14:28; 22. Kyzer Zinnel 14:33; 28. Leland Eggers 14:54; 35. Landis Powgnas 16:03; 46. Nate Judkins 18:19; 49. Abram Ribbons 19:06.

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