Back in Iowa, Noelle Steines powers to the girls’ title at North Linn cross country meet

TROY MILLS — Noelle Steines isn’t just running this fall.

She’s flying, too.

“I’ve taken a couple of weeks off to make some college visits,” Steines said, adding that she has been to Liberty, Colorado and Missouri.

It hasn’t slowed her down.

A senior at Tipton, Steines breezed to the girls’ individual title at the Bob Mudd Lynx Invitational cross country meet Saturday morning on the campus of North Linn Community Schools.

She finished in 18:00, a single second off of her career-best.

“I still know there’s more there when somebody is pushing me,” she said.

A three-time Class 1A state champion at Calamus-Wheatland, Steines ran to the front early and kept increasing ther margin.

Lauren Krogmann of Starmont was second in 19:29, holding off Iris Dahl of Washington (Iowa), who finished in 19:30.

A 4-5-6 placing by Kinley Mai, Sydney Dee and Livya Nelson boosted Solon to a 31-point margin atop the girls’ team standings. The Spartans compiled 54 points.

Marion was second with 85, followed by Washington and Tipton, with 92 apiece.

Mai and Nelson are freshmen; Dee is a senior.

Boys: Vinton-Shellsburg’s Alex Torres is runner-up

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Washington captured the boys’ title with 69 points. Tipton was second with 81.

Led by individual runner-up Alex Torres, Vinton-Shellsburg (105) was third.

Emerson Vokes of Grundy Center won it in 15:42. Torres finished just ahead of Maquoketa Valley’s Matthew Schaul; both were clocked at 16:13.

“Once I saw that Vokes was out of reach, I set my sights on second place,” Torres said. “Schaul is an awesome guy to race against. I trust my training, and I trust my kick at the end.

“I’ve done a lot to prepare myself for when the stakes get high at the end of the season.”

Tyler Alderton and Andrew Rees were fifth and sixth to lead Washington’s title run.

The meet was recently named in honor of Bob Mudd, who coached cross country at North Linn for 46 seasons. His girls’ teams were a consistent success, qualifying for state 37 times.

Girls’ results

TEAMS

1. Solon 54, 2. Marion 85, 3. Washington (Iowa) 92, 4. Tipton 92, 5. Williamsburg 119, 6. Hudson 128, 7. Maquoketa Valley 191, 8. Grundy Center 199, 9. Iowa City Regina 221, 10. Vinton-Shellsburg 250, 11. Benton Community 299.

INDIVIDUALS

Individuals — 1. Noelle Steines (Tipton), 18:00; 2. Lauren Krogmann (Starmont), 19:29; 3. Iris Dahl (Washington), 19:30; 4. Kinley Mai (Solon), 19:37; 5. Sydney Dee (Solon), 19:40; 6. Livya Nelson (Solon), 19:41; 7. Grace Storjohann (GdyC), 19:49; 8. Addison Dabroski (Marion), 19:50; 9. Audra Burbridge (MaqV), 19:52; 10. Mollie Hansen (Hudson), 19:53.

Boys’ results

TEAMS

1. Washington (Iowa) 69, 2. Tipton 81, 3. Vinton-Shellsburg 105, 4. Solon 119, 5. Williamsburg 123, 6. Maquoketa Valley 168, 7. Marion 178, 8. Benton Community 220, 9. Alburnett 254, 10. Starmont 263, 11. Iowa City Regina 289, 12. Independence 338, 13. Grundy Center 342, 14. Clayton Ridge 354, 15. Hudson 363.

INDIVIDUALS

1. Emerson Vokes (GdyC), 15:42; 2. Alex Torres (V-S), 16:13; 3. Matthew Schaul (MaqV), 16:13; 4. Clay Bohlmann (Tipton), 16:38; 5. Tyler Alderton (Washington), 16:49; 6. Andrew Rees (Washington), 16:55; 7. Levi Benesh (North Linn), 17:06; 8. Caleb Bohlmann (Tipton), 17:11; 9. Zander Hagen (Tipton), 17:13; 10. Anders Holmes (Solon), 17:25.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com