Rested and refueled, North Linn’s Meghan Wheatley is at her best ever

TROY MILLS — Cross country runners talk about summer miles.

Meghan Wheatley opted for summer rest.

A balky hamstring was the reason. A dynamite senior season has been the reward.

“The first time I ran all summer was four days before camp (in August). That first day, I ran 3 miles in 20 minutes. That really shook off the nerves,” she said.

“Not running over the summer, it fueled my desire to perform better than I ever have before.”

The top-ranked girl in Class 1A, Wheatley rolled to the title at the North Linn Invitational, building a 43-second cushion and finishing in 18:27 Saturday morning.

“I’ve been PR’ing at every meet, so not doing it today kind of sucks,” Wheatley said.

But, this was a career-best on this course, wasn’t it?

“Well, yeah,” Wheatley nodded.

Wheatley has endured more than her share of highs and lows. The lowest came the spring of her freshman year, when she dealt an eating disorder called Avoidance Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, which resulted in her weight plummeting to 72 pounds.

Then came the hamstring injury last spring. Now, she is at her best ever.

The next five finishers consisted of a freshman (Lauren Krogmann of Starmont-West Central was second, in 19:10) and four sophomores.

Solon was the class of the girls’ field, with 45 points. Marion was second with 81, followed by Tipton (86).

Sydney Dee (seventh) and Anna Quillin (eighth) led the Spartans’ charge.

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Boys: Washington’s Micah Rees wins with PR

Micah Rees didn’t consider himself an early-morning runner, or a cold-weather ace, but the senior from Washington (Iowa) tackled both factors Saturday.

“I didn’t know how (I’d fare) today,” he said. “I felt fast, definitely. I think the cold numbed my legs, and with all of the turns, this course didn’t feel too long.”

Rees set a new personal best by 17 seconds, in 15:28. He had a comfortable lead by the race’s midpoint, and won by more than a half-minute.

Brick Kabela of Solon was the runner-up, in 15:59.

Rees led Washington to the boys’ team title; the Demons tallied 64 points; Solon was second with 79.

“I think four of our top five ran PR’s today,” Rees said. “Last year, this was the meet that knocked us out of the rankings. I think today will be the opposite, it will help us.”

Tyler Alderton, Andrew Rees and Lane Schrock ran ninth, 10th and 14th for the Demons.

North Linn Invitational

Girls results

TEAMS

1. Solon 45, 2. Marion 81, 3. Tipton 86, 4. Washington (Iowa) 114, 5. Williamsburg 117, 6. Iowa City Regina 184, 7. North Linn 189, 8. Hudson 231, 9. Cascade 253, 10. Grundy Center 264, 11. Vinton-Shellsburg 295, 12. Edgewood-Colesburg 301, 13. Alburnett 328.

INDIVIDUALS

1. Meghan Wheatley (NL), 18:27; 2. Lauren Krogmann (Starmont-West Central), 19:10; 3. Hallie Kelchen (Casc), 19:22; 4. Iris Dahl (Wash), 19:25; 5. Addison Dabroski (Marion), 19:37; 6. Taryn Burbridge (Maquoketa Valley), 19:52; 7. Sydney Dee (Solon), 19:58; 8. Anna Quillin (Solon), 19:59; 9. Alivia Edens (Tipton), 20:01; 10. Laura Owen (Tipton), 20:26.

Boys’ results

TEAMS

1. Washington (Iowa) 64, 2. Solon 79, 3. Williamsburg 129, 4. Grundy Center 132, 5. Vinton-Shellsburg 136, 6. Marion 158, 7. Iowa City Regina 170, 8. Tipton 172, 9. Maquoketa Valley 207, 10. Benton Community 280, 11. North Linn 342, 12. Alburnett 356, 13. Starmont-West Central 359, 14. Cascade 379, 15. Hudson 389, 16. Independence 407, 17. Clayton Ridge 438.

INDIVIDUALS

1. Micah Rees (Wash), 15:28; 2. Brick Kabela (Solon), 15:59; 3. Emerson Vokes (GC), 16:06; 4. Matthew Schaul (MaqV), 16:07; 5. Clay Bohlmann (Tipton), 16:16; 6. Ales Torres (V-S), 16:18; 7. Cooper Cook (Marion), 16:22; 8. Kaden Lynch (GC), 16:33; 9. Tyler Alderton (Wash), 16:39; 10. Andrew Rees (Wash), 16:45.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com