Becca McDermott at Lakeside: A 'magical' combination

FORT DODGE — For Becca McDermott, there's something special about Lakeside Golf Course.

'For me, it's a magical course,' she said. 'Anything can happen.'

A senior at Cascade High School, McDermott will toe the starting line at 1 p.m. Saturday, hoping for one more magical run. She is a three-time Class 2A state runner-up.

'She's really had a great career,' said Coach Bob Davidshofer, who is coaching cross country for the 52nd year. 'She really has been a great girl to coach for the last few years, and she has run at a high level.'

McDermott burst upon the scene here three years ago, emerging from a pack of seven runners in the final half mile to finish second in 15:01 (it was a 4,000-meter race for girls through 2014), 33 seconds behind Gilbert's Grace Gibbons.

'I remember I was super nervous. There was a lot of adrenaline,' McDermott said. 'It was all so new to me. It was kind of overwhelming. Second place wasn't something I was planning on.'

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McDermott's closest brush with an individual championship came as a sophomore, when she ran 15:03, five seconds behind Monticello's Paige Holub, then a freshman.

Last year, Holub won again, in 18:54. McDermott was second again, in 19:10. But last year was different: Cascade unseated Monticello for the 2A girls' team championship.

It was Davidshofer's 15th state title, but his first since 1992.

'Winning as a team, that meant everything,' McDermott said. 'We had been close so many times the last few years. To finally get it done, it was truly an amazing feeling.

'Cascade is a special place to be a cross-country runner. We all push each other, and we all congratulate each other. Everyone is so kind to each other. It just feels like home.'

McDermott's times and places this season haven't been where they were last year. But as she said, at Lakeside, anything can happen.

'Coach said the other day, 'Becca, that's your course,'' McDermott said. 'I'm just looking forward to going back, doing my best and seeing what happens.'

McDermott hasn't decided yet where she'll attend college. She does plan to run.

'I don't think I could give up running,' she said. 'Nothing compares to the feeling of competition with girls who want the same thing.'

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