Youthful Central runs 3rd

RESULTSFORT DODGE -- Elkader Central had one of the younger small-school girls teams at the state cross country meet.One of the better teams, too.The Warriors placed third in the Class 1A field Saturday afternoon at Lakeside Golf Course.Led by individual champion Rebekah Topham, Griswold won the team title with 86 points. Pekin was second with 102, followed by Central, with 151.Central has three freshmen in its lineup, including lead runner Haley Schroeder, who was 12th.Topham, a sophomore, was clocked in 14:05 to win her second straight crown.Jasmine Staebler of Clayton Ridge was the top 1A finisher -- girl or boy -- with a seventh-place effort. Kari Fitzpatrick of Edgewood-Colesburg was ninth, Abi Watson of North Tama 10th.North Linn's Nicole Miller was in the top 10 before a misstep on a bridge, about a half-mile from the finish, took her down. Preliminary diagnosis was a sprained ankle.Council Bluffs St. Albert won its second straight 1A boys title. The Falcons scored 68 points; Denver was second with 84.St. Albert's Josh Sindelar was the individual champ in 16:15. Jason McVay of Alburnett was eighth.