Girls going the (longer) distance

Another cross country season has arrived, and the sky has not fallen on the proud North-Linn girls' program.

'Everybody's sticking with it,” said Coach Bob Mudd, who has guided the Lynx to more than 30 state meets throughout a long, successful career. 'They weren't happy about what has happened, but everybody is out.

'We'll see how it goes.”

The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union's board of directors voted in January to stretch girls' cross country races to 5,000 meters (3.1 miles). The change takes effect this season.

'We were one of the last holdouts, and it was time to get in line with everyone else,” said IGHSAU executive director Mike Dick, who pointed out that fewer than 10 states run less than 5K.

Iowa girls had run 4,000 meters (2.5 miles) since 2002. Before that, it was 2 miles.

'I'm very happy that we moved up,” said Linn-Mar Coach Todd Goodell. 'Now, cross country is a distance runner's race, as it should be. In the past, the 400- and 800-meter runner could excel in cross country, but now, on the (varsity) depth chart, I think you'll see some spots taken up by true distance runners.”

When the decision came down, Mudd had to convince some of his runners to stick it out. It worked, and the roster of about 25 stayed virtually intact.

That's the theme throughout the area. Defectors have been minimal.

'We didn't lose any kids,” said Williamsburg Coach Nick Nordheim. 'Some of them weren't excited about it, but even the JV kids said right away that they were going to stick with it.

'Most of the nervous ones were those that were going to be freshmen.”

In the most recent IGHSAU participation survey (2012-13), 4,482 girls were out for in cross country in Iowa. That ranks sixth of the 10 sports that the Girls Union provides. Iowa is 18th in the nation in girls' cross country participation despite ranking 30th in population.

Iowa City West Coach Mike Parker had been a staunch supporter of the move to 5K for years.

'Our girls are very excited,” Parker said. 'Our girls were excited when they moved from 2 miles to 4K, and they're excited about this move.

'It's something that will make the sport easier to follow. Weekend runners understand the 5K, what a good time is.”

Parker has an ace in sophomore Bailey Nock, who was third at the state meet last year in Class 4A. Nock will likely run 5,000 meters in less than 18 minutes. Williamsburg's Julie Hollensbe ran a 5K this summer in 18:32.

Linn-Mar senior Amber Decker said she fell out of love with cross country last year. She's hopeful the new distance will renew her passion for the sport.

'I don't think I would have embraced this distance last year,” said Decker, who is geared more toward the 400s and 800s in track. 'I didn't run enough. I only ran 20 miles a week last year, and it's more like 30-35 this year.

'I think my (increased) training will help. I want to enjoy the sport again. When I'm done, I want to be happy with how my senior season went.”

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