VanDraska paces fastest Byrnes race ever

WATERLOO — Tysen VanDraska was the fastest runner in the fastest high school boys' cross country race ever at Byrnes Park.

A senior at Cedar Rapids Prairie, VanDraska outkicked the competition down the stretch and captured the individual title in 15:46 at the Mississippi Valley Conference Super meet Thursday.

'I knew they would try to stick with me and beat me down,' said VanDraska, who is fully used to depending on a late kick — he's one of the state's best 800-meter track runners, after all. 'I just did my best, because I knew I could finish with them.'

VanDraska was one of four runners to eclipse the old course record of 16:02 on a warm early-October afternoon. Cedar Falls' Sam Schillinger and Isaac Smith finished in 15:50 and 15:52, respectively. Linn-Mar's Michael Mather was fourth in 15:57.

All 14 MVC schools were in attendance, but the boys' race evolved into a dual. Cedar Falls and Prairie combined for 10 of the top 11 runners, with Cedar Falls edging the Hawks by a 28-34 margin. Linn-Mar was third with 109 points.

'We're definitely getting better, every day,' VanDraska said. 'All the guys are cutting time, and we have a freshman (11th-place Colton LaGrange) who is killing it.'

Prairie's Jake Moore, Cam Steffens and Chris Oehlert were fifth, eighth and ninth, respectively.

Class 4A second-rated Cedar Falls beat No. 4 Prairie handily at the Prairie Invitational in August. The Hawks have carved at the gap.

'We're not there yet, but we're going to get faster and faster,' VanDraska said. 'I think Fort Dodge (site of the state meet Oct. 31), that will be our fastest day.'

Led by individual champion Mary Arch, Iowa City High took top honors in the girls' race. The Little Hawks tallied 64 points, followed by Cedar Falls (77), Linn-Mar (93) and short-handed Iowa City West (98).

Arch raced to the front of the pack immediately, then held off fast-finishing Reagan Gorman of Cedar Rapids Washington. Arch was clocked in 18:52; Gorman in 18:58. West's Tia Saunders was third in 19:14.

'I like to see how much I can push myself,' Arch said. 'It's important to know how hard you can compete if you run by yourself.

'I was pretty confident we would do well today. We have accomplished a lot of really big things lately.'

Arch was out and away from the pack in a hurry, and led by 10 seconds at the mile mark at 5:44. The margin remained the same through the second mile before Gorman chipped away somewhat.

'I don't mind letting people get ahead,' Gorman said 'Just not too far ahead.'

Arch was one of three City runners in the top 10. Anna Lindower was eighth, Emily Bywater 10th.

Gorman was the first of five Metro runners that finished in the top seven.

Cedar Rapids Kennedy's Hannah Fusselman was fourth in 19:23, followed by Maddie Mann of Linn-Mar (fifth), Meredith Koenigsfeld of Cedar Rapids Jefferson (sixth) and Jenny Dickes of Cedar Rapids Xavier (seventh).

MISSISSIPPI VALLEY CONFERENCE SUPER MEET

At Waterloo (Byrnes Park)

Girls Results

Teams — 1. Iowa City High 64, 2. Cedar Falls 77, 3. Linn-Mar 93, 4. Iowa City West 98, 5. Dubuque Hempstead 120, 6. C.R. Jefferson 206, 7. Dubuque Senior 219, 8. Dubuque Wahlert 237, 9. C.R. Prairie 251, 10. C.R. Washington 258, 11. C.R. Kennedy 278, 12. C.R. Xavier 290, 13. Waterloo West 343.

Individuals — 1. Mary Arch (ICH), 18:52; 2. Reagan Gorman (CRW), 18:58; 3. Tia Saunders (ICW), 19:14; 4. Hannah Fusselman (CRK), 19:23; 5. Maddie Mann (LM), 19:24; 6. Meredith Koenigsfeld (CRJ), 19:30; 7. Jenny Dickes (CRX), 19:31; 8. Anna Lindower (ICH), 19:35; 9. Cassidy Christopher (CF), 19:39; 10. Emily Bywater (ICH), 19:40.

City High — 1. Arch, 8. Lindower, 10. Bywater, 20. Mollie Hansen, 20:00; 25. Amelia Morrow, 20:10.

Linn-Mar — 5. Mann, 11. Morgan Garcia, 19:42; 15. Amber Decker, 19:50; 28. Deanna Newhouse, 20:19; 34. Abby Van Rheenen, 20:36.

I.C. West — 3. Saunders, 19. Ellie Gretter, 19:59; 21. Amani Ali, 20:01; 24. Olivia Moore, 20:07; 31. Jessie Skopec, 20:25.

Jefferson — 6. Koenigsfeld, 17. Sarah Hanna, 19:53; 59. Adriana Hargrove, 21:32; 61. Caleigh Meyer, 21:39; 63. Megan Ely, 21:44.

Prairie — 41. Cayla Renwick, 20:57; 44. Victoria Enyart, 21:06; 47. Avery Henderson, 21:08; 52. Alissa Neubauer, 21:15; 67. Kirstin Skriver, 21:55.

Washington — 2. Gorman, 23. Sarah Altemeier, 20:02; 62. Serena Eck, 21:42; 84. Mekela Spence, 23:26; 87. Sierra Sheets, 23:55.

Kennedy — 4. Fusselman, 56. Ali Meyer, 21:25; 68. Hannah Ratzer, 21:56; 71. Courtney Wampole, 22:02; 79. Anna Klein, 22:51.

Xavier — 7. Dickes, 65. Megan Lenss, 21:49; 69. Kiana Stanek, 22:01; 73. Abigail Tanko, 22:12; 76. Annie Sigmon, 22:23.

Boys Results

Teams — 1. Cedar Falls 28, 2. C.R. Prairie 34, 3. Linn-Mar 109, 4. Iowa City West 124, 5. Dubuque Senior 127, 6. Dubuque Hempstead 159, 7. Iowa City High 177, 8. C.R. Washington 190, 9. Waterloo West 195, 10. C.R. Xavier 282, 11. Dubuque Wahlert 343, 12. C.R. Kennedy 347, 13. C.R. Jefferson 348, 14. Waterloo East 470.

Individuals — 1. Tysen VanDraska (CRP), 15:46; 2. Sam Schillinger (CF), 15:50; 3. Isaac Smith (CF), 15:52; 4. Michael Mather (LM), 15:57; 5. Jake Moore (CRP), 16:08; 6. Ethan Smith (CF), 16:12; 7. Jake Hartman (CF), 16:13; 8. Cam Steffens (CRP), 16:16; 9. Chris Oehlert (CRP), 16:20; 10. Andrew Nurse (CF), 16:20.

Prairie — 1. VanDraska, 5. Moore, 8. Steffens, 9. Oehlert, 11. Colton LaGrange, 16:23.

Linn-Mar — 4. Mather, 17. Ryan Murphy, 16:37; 22. Dalton Gosch, 16:48; 29. Grant Chlystun, 16:55; 37. Johnny Clymer, 17:04.

I.C. West — 12. Patrick Karanja, 16:24; 14. Kolby Greiner, 16:30; 23. Matthew Schneider, 16:49; 36. Andrew Murley, 17:04; 39. Ali Ali, 17:06.

City High — 19. Matthew Dodge, 16:40; 34. Ry Threkeld-Wiegand, 17:02; 40. Russel Martin, 17:07; 41. Lucas Firmstone, 17:07; 43. Grant Meardon, 17:08.

Washington — 16. Samuel Eck, 16:35; 24. Finbar Berry, 16:50; 42. Patrick Gorman, 17:08; 46. Paul Schneidermann, 17:09; 62. Khory Nobles, 17:38.

Xavier — 25. Steven Culpepper, 16:50; 35. Jonathan Francois, 17:03; 72. Nicholas Lyon, 17:55; 73. John Pape, 17:56; 77. Joseph Sciezinski, 18:05.

Kennedy — 63. Jackson Foley, 17:40; 64. Jacob Ciabatti, 17:40; 67. Jackson Middlekauff, 17:42; 74. Derek Girling, 17:59; 79. Riley Patton, 18:09.

Jefferson — 61. Barrett Wise, 17:37; 65. Eli Sarantakos, 17:40; 71. Robert Larson, 17:54; 75. Mac Karr, 18:00; 76. Nate Homan, 18:03.

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com