Center Point-Urbana duo run off with Wamac cross country individual titles

SOLON — Stepping out of her sister’s shadow? Kora Katcher isn’t wild of that analogy.

Blazing her own trail? That’s probably better.

“I’ve never thought of myself being in her shadow,” Katcher said in reference to older sister Adrianna Katcher, a three-time state cross country champion and 2020 Gazette Female Athlete of the Year. “We’re two different runners, two different people.

“But I’m happy she showed me how to work hard.”

A senior at Center Point-Urbana, Kora won the girls’ race at the Wamac Conference championships Thursday afternoon at the Solon Nature and Recreation Center.

“It wasn’t my best race, but I really wanted that first-place spot,” said Katcher, who was clocked in 19 minutes, 27 seconds and won by 17 seconds. “I was super nervous, and when I’m nervous, I know I’m going to do good.”

Katcher ran to the lead quickly and controlled the girls’ race throughout. Ditto for schoolmate Eli Larson, who won the boys’ race in convincing fashion.

Larson broke free from the Marion duo of Shane Erb and Jedidiah Osgood in the second mile and won by 26 seconds, in 15:52.

“The last race I ran, I wasn’t very happy with my second mile,” Larson said. “I really wanted to push it there today.

“I usually have a good kick, so the second mile is the best time to separate.”

Speaking of separation, there was an abundance of that in the team races.

Erb and Osgood led Marion to a resounding margin in the boys’ competition. The Wolves had five of the top 12 runners — “seven in the top 18,” as Erb was quick to add — and tallied 38 points.

Solon was second with 81; Williamsburg finished third with 89.

“We’ve really been building a lot for the last few years,” said Erb, who was second in 16:18 (Osgood was next in 16:31). “We had great leadership when I was a freshman, and the seniors are just working to continue that.

“Marion’s going to be good for a long time to come.”

Blake Roling, Chris Oberbroeckling and Jakob Regennitter were 10th, 11th and 12th.

Ranked No. 1 in Class 3A, Solon’s girls were similarly dominant, putting three girls in the top seven and accumulating 48 points. Mount Vernon-Lisbon (87) and Clear Creek Amana (96) rounded out the top three.

Kayla Young paced the Spartans with a third-place effort, followed by Gracie Federspiel (sixth) and Anna Quillin (seventh).

Haidyn Barker of CCA was the girls’ runner-up.

WAMAC CONFERENCE CROSS COUNTRY MEET

At Solon

GIRLS RESULTS

Teams — 1. Solon 48, 2. Mount Vernon-Lisbon 87, Clear Creek Amana 96, 4. Center Point-Urbana 109, 5. Marion 115, 6. Williamsburg 120, 7. Dyersville Beckman 136, 8. Benton Community 187, 9. West Delaware 248, 10. South Tama 285, 11. Independence 328, 12. Maquoketa 355, 13. Vinton-Shellsburg 382.

Individuals — 1. Kora Katcher (CPU), 19:27; 2. Haidyn Barker (CCA), 19:44; 3. Kayla Young (Solon), 19:45; 4. Laura Swart (MVL), 19:52; 5. Anna Hoffman (MVL), 20:09; 6. Gracie Federspiel (Solon), 20:17; 7. Anna Quillin (Solon), 20:21; 8. Madison Prier (Marion), 20:25; 9. Peyton Steffen (Marion), 20:27; 10. Maria Kruse (Beckman), 20:29; 11. Emrie Johnson (MVL), 20:29; 12. Kalin Rotzoll (CCA), 20:34; 13. Zada Buchholtz (Wmsbg), 20:37; 14. Emma Bock (Solon), 20:40; 15. Ruth Jennings (Wmsbg), 20:40.

BOYS RESULTS

Teams — 1. Marion 38, 2. Solon 81, 3. Williamsburg 89, 4. Mount Vernon-Lisbon 114, 5. South Tama 143, 6. Clear Creek Amana 144, 7. Center Pont-Urbana 175, 8. Benton Community 214, 9. West Delaware 241, 10. Vinton-Shellsburg 269, 11. Maquoketa 340, 12. Dyersville Beckman 346, 13. Independence 367.

Individuals — 1. Eli Larson (CPU), 15:52; 2. Shane Erb (Marion), 16:18; 3. Jedidiah Osgood (Marion), 16:31; 4. Brick Kabela (Solon), 16:49; 5. Tommy Tyynismaa (STC), 16:57; 6. Harrison Garber (Wmsbg), 16:59; 7. Gabe Hinman (Solon), 16:59; 8. James Brant (STC), 17:03; 9. Gavin Zillyette (CCA), 17:04; 10. Blake Roling (Marion), 17:05; 11. Chris Oberbroeckling (Marion), 17:15; 12. Jacob Regennitter (Marion), 17:19; 13. Trey Schulte (BC), 17:25; 14. Brock Hilsman (CCA), 17:25; 15. Sam Rich (Wmsbg), 17:32.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com