Expect a scorching pace when Ford Washburn, Miles Wilson race in MVC cross country meet

CEDAR RAPIDS — How low can they go?

Ford Washburn and Miles Wilson are two fast guys. Thursday, they’ll be running on a fast course at Seminole Valley Park.

The Washburn-Wilson duel — and the times it may produce — is the highlight of the Mississippi Valley Conference “Super” cross country meet.

A senior at Iowa City High, Washburn sizzled to a 14:50 effort at the Bud Williams Invitational meet last Thursday at Iowa City’s Ashton Cross Country Course. He ran most of the race alone, winning by 28 seconds.

Wilson won’t be overwhelmed. The Cedar Rapids Kennedy senior owned the Seminole record briefly earlier this season before Marion’s Jedidiah Osgood eclipsed it with a 15:02 effort two weeks ago. Wilson was second at 15:07.

The girls’ varsity race is scheduled for 4:10 p.m., with the boys toeing the line at 4:40.

City High and Cedar Falls are the favorites in the boys’ team race. The Little Hawks edged Dubuque Hempstead by one point for the title last year at Waterloo.

Washburn was the individual boys’ runner-up in 2021; Wilson was fifth.

Dubuque Hempstead — the defending Class 4A champion and No. 1-ranked team this fall — is an overwhelming favorite in the girls’ race.

The Mustangs’ trio of Julia Gehl, Keelee Leitzen and Brooke O’Brien ran 2-3-5 in the MVC meet last year. Leitzen was a state champion as a freshman in 2020.

No. 3 Dubuque Senior has five girls ranked in the top 25 statewide. Top Metro/Iowa City girls include Ani Wedemeyer of Iowa City High and Rachel Adamson of Linn-Mar.

Thursday’s forecast is for 68 degrees and partly cloudy conditions.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com