Center Point-Urbana duo sweep titles at 3A state cross country qualifier

SOLON — The cross country season has taken a physical toll on Center Point-Urbana's aces.

For Adrianna Katcher, it's evident in the kinesiology tape on her lower leg.

'I think it's tendinitis in the ankle and Achilles area,' said the defending state champion. 'I've been icing it often ... a lot of rolling and stretching.'

For Myles Bach, it's something not as visible to onlookers.

'I've been getting migraines,' he said. 'I got one today, but I'll sleep it off tonight.'

Katcher and Bach fought through their respective maladies and won individual titles at Thursday's Class 3A state-qualifying meet at the Solon Recreation and Nature Area.

A sophomore, Katcher pulled away from Dubuque Wahlert's Gabby Moran midway through the race, then held off hard-charging Mary Blanchard of Grinnell at the end. Katcher was clocked in 18:40, Blanchard in 18:43.

'I had a girl on my heel, so I just tried to kick it the last mile,' Katcher said.

Bach built a 10-second lead by the end of the first mile, and that's about where the margin stayed the rest of the way. He finished in 16:17; Mount Pleasant's Cody Mertens was next in 16:28.

A transfer from Marion, Bach has not raced against former teammate Jeremy Fopma, the defending 3A state champion, this season.

'That's been by design,' he said. 'I didn't want to deal with the drama. I felt it was better to get more training in and less racing.'

Bach will be one of Fopma's top challengers at the state meet Oct. 28 at Lakeside Golf Course, Fort Dodge. The top three teams and the top 15 individuals from each site advance.

Two-time defending state champion Mount Vernon-Lisbon rode a 6-7-10 finish and won the 3A boys' race with 62 points, followed by Grinnell (69) and CPU (79).

'Our pack ... we build off each other,' Thatcher Krob said. 'Running with guys of like ability, where you should be.'

Dubuque Wahlert (47), Grinnell (99) and Benton Community (106) earned the 3A girls' state bids.

In the 1A girls' race, Springville-Central City's Emily Staal ran unthreatened throughout. Her final time of 18:43 was 84 seconds in front of the pack, which turned out to be led by older sister Janelle Staal.

'When I get ahead like that, my mom tells me to try to catch the Gator,' Staal said, referring to the pace vehicle.

Elkader Central edged Upper Iowa Conference and top-rated Lansing Kee, 69-78, for the 1A girls' title. Bellevue Marquette (84) was third.

Bellevue blistered the 1A boys' field with a 23-point tally. Brady Griebel (16:45) led a 1-2-3 finish for the Comets. Starmont (105) and Calamus-Wheatland (132) also advanced.

CLASS 1A CROSS COUNTRY STATE-QUALIFYING MEET

At Solon

(Top 3 teams, top 15 individuals advance to state)

GIRLS RESULTS

Teams — 1. Elkader Central 69, 2. Lansing Kee 78, 3. Bellevue Marquette 84, 4. Springville-Central City 99, 5. North Linn 117, 6. Durant 187, 7. Starmont 206, 8. Highland 214, 9. Wilton 228, 10. Winfield-Mount Union 234, 11. Alburnett 256, 12. Lone Tree 296, 13. Edgewood-Colesburg 312, 14. Iowa Mennonite 356, 15. MFL MarMac 368.

Individual state qualifiers — 1. Emily Staal (S-CC), 18:43; 2. Janelle Staal (S-CC), 20:07; 3. Ciera Dietchler (ElkC), 20:20; 4. Kailey Miller (Bellevue), 20:37; 5. Katie Brennan (Kee), 20:55; 6. Hannah Bridgewater (NL), 20:57; 7. Jasmine Mueller (ElkC), 21:06; 8. Pearl Krieger-Coble (WMU), 21:08; 9. Halle Kilburg (BMarq), 21:09; 10. Desi Weber (ElkC), 21:19; 11. Annika Frank (BMarq), 21:22; 12. Rachel Walleser (Kee), 21:25; 13. Taylor Sublette (High), 21:41; 14. Bianca Malone (Star), 21:41; 15. Ellie Berry (Dur), 21:45.

BOYS RESULTS

Teams — 1. Bellevue 23, 2. Starmont 105, 3. Calamus-Wheatland 132, 4. Maquoketa Valley 157, 5. Durant 181, 6. Springville-Central City 195, 7. Wilton 232, 8. North Linn 256, 9. Winfield-Mount Union 271, 10. Easton Valley 294, 11. Bellevue Marquette 329, 12. Iowa Mennonite 334, 13. Columbus Community 336, 14. Alburnett 340, 15. Clinton Prince of Peace 359, 16. Elkader Central 414, 17. Lone Tree 443, 18. Postville 484, 19. Clayton Ridge 509, 20. Edgewood-Colesburg 521, 21. Highland 524, 22. East Buchanan 551, 23. Isaac Newton Christian Academy 696.

Individual state qualifiers — 1. Brady Griebel (Belle), 16:45; 2. Caleb Kress (Belle), 16:53; 3. Alex Reed (Belle), 16:55; 4. Buddy Darting (Wilt), 17:05; 5. Jacob Wessel (Ed-Co), 17:07; 6. Hunter Rickels (C-Wh), 17:10; 7. Kyle Guenther (Belle), 17:12; 8. Levi Geyer (IMS), 17:18; 9. Caleb Christiansen (S-CC), 17:18; 10. Jack Sieverding (Belle), 17:23; 11. Seth Boss (NL), 17:27; 12. Payton Schier (CPOP), 17:30; 13. Caleb Wittman (Star), 17:32; 14. Mitchell Hayes (Star), 17:34; 15. Easton Botkins (Dur), 17:36.

CLASS 3A CROSS COUNTRY STATE-QUALIFYING MEET

At Solon

(Top 3 teams, top 15 individuals advance to state)

GIRLS RESULTS

Teams — 1. Dubuque Wahlert 47, 2. Grinnell 99, 3. Benton Community 106, 4. Davenport Assumption 111, 5. Solon 114, 6. Mount Pleasant 139, 7. Fort Madison 163, 8. Mount Vernon-Lisbon 177, 9. Center Point-Urbana 196, 10. South Tama 288.

Individual state qualifiers — 1. Adrianna Katcher (CPU), 18:40; 2. Mary Blanchard (Grin), 18:43; 3. Gabby Moran (DbqW), 18:48; 4. Sophia Gilbert (BC), 18:56; 5. Abby Ryon (MtP), 19:31; 6. Kiersten Conway (Sol), 19:36; 7. Camille Mac (Iowa City Liberty), 19:38; 8. Grace Herber (DbqW), 19:48; 9. Sierra Howardson (FtM), 19:50; 10. Brett Schneider (FtM), 20:03; 11. Kaylee Osterberger (DbqW), 20:12; 12. Anjali Jones (Grin), 20:20; 13. Emma Earles (DbqW), 20:21; 14. Julia Schumacher (DavA), 20:22; 15. Aubrey Frey (MVL), 20:26.

BOYS RESULTS

Teams — 1. Mount Vernon-Lisbon 62, 2. Grinnell 69, 3. Center Point-Urbana 79, 4. Benton Community 105, 5. Dubuque Wahlert 124, 6. Mount Pleasant 146, 7. Fort Madison 107, 8. Davenport Assumption 205, 9. Iowa City Liberty 231, 10. Solon 238, 11. Notre Dame-West Burlington 351, 12. South Tama 383, 13. Keokuk 389.

Individual state qualifiers — 1. Myles Bach (CPU), 16:17; 2. Cody Mertens (MtP), 16:28; 3. Thomas Clower (Grin), 16:39; 4. Trenton O'Halloran (Grin), 16:50; 5. Patrick Gorkow (BC), 16:53; 6. Thatcher Krob (MVL), 16:53; 7. Payton Bahl (MVL), 16:56; 8. Aaron Steffensmeier (FtM), 17:00; 9. Peter Woodward (ICL), 17:01; 10. Garrett Herring (MVL), 17:06; 11. Chris Guise (DavA), 17:12; 12. Luke Post (CPU), 17:14; 13. Dylan Spina (BC), 17:16; 14. Joe Simon (Grin), 17:17; 15. Tristan Miller (CPU), 17:17.

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