Grady & Grace: MVL’s Olberding, CPU’s Estling are Wamac individual cross country champs

MARION — Grady Olberding’s legs felt awkward in the final mile.

“Weird,” he said.

The lungs, though, those were fine.

“I feel really good aerobically right now,” Olberding said after claiming his second consecutive boys’ individual championship at the Wamac Conference cross country championships Thursday afternoon at Antioch Christian Church.

“When my legs feel like they did today, I just stay calm and keep pushing.”

Despite that unusual sensation in his legs, Olberding pulled away in the second mile and repeated in 15:47. That was 14 seconds ahead of runner-up Alex Torres of Vinton-Shellsburg.

Despite a 1-3 finish from Olberding and Dawson Scheil, Mount Vernon-Lisbon settled for third in the boys’ team standings. Grinnell had the most balanced team — only 48 seconds between its top and bottom scorers — and scored 50 points.

Clear Creek Amana was second with 56; Mount Vernon-Lisbon was next with 61.

“We wanted to win, but it is what it is,” Olberding said. “We can’t change it. Our No. 3 runner was out with sickness. It doesn’t change our goals for (the state qualifying meet) or state.”

Mount Vernon-Lisbon did capture the girls’ title, and did it convincingly.

Paced by a 2-3 placing from Evelyn Moeller and Kiersten Swart, the Mustangs put up a 53-point total. Solon (76) and Marion (93) rounded out the top three.

“As hard as we’ve worked all season, it’s a lot of fun to have so much success together,” Moeller said. “Hopefully this will carry over into our last two meets.”

Center Point-Urbana’s Grace Estling surged to the front immediately and claimed the girls’ individual crown in 18:55.

“I try to get out fast enough, but not too fast,” said Estling, a sophomore. “I don’t get as nervous as I did last season. I just go out and run. I don’t think too much about it.”

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Estling’s margin of victory was 19 seconds: Moeller finished in 19:14; Swart in 19:36.

“My family was telling me how far behind (Moeller) was,” Estling said. “That helps me. It was nice that there wasn’t anybody right beside me.”

Solon had three girls in the top nine, led by fourth-place Sydney Dee.

Same for the CCA boys; Brock Hilsman finished fourth.

Wamac Conference cross country: Girls results

TEAMS

1. Mount Vernon-Lisbon 53, 2. Solon 76, 3. Marion 93, 4. Clear Creek Amana 109, 5. Center Point-Urbana 113, 6. Williamsburg 126, 7. West Delaware 201, 8. Vinton-Shellsburg 206, 9. Benton Community 228, 10. Grinnell 259.

INDIVIDUALS

1. Grace Estling (CPU), 18:55; 2. Evelyn Moeller (MVL), 19:14; 3. Kiersten Swart (MVL), 19:36; 4. Sydney Dee (Solon), 19:46; 5. Channing Becker (Williamsburg), 19:48; 6. Kinley Mai (Solon), 19:49; 7. Kyliee Zylstra (Grinnell), 19:52; 8. Addison Dabroski (Marion), 19:55; 9. Livya Nelson (Solon), 20:02; 10. Kyra Cordes (Marion), 20:05.

Wamac Conference cross country: Boys results

TEAMS

1. Grinnell 50, 2. Clear Creek Amana 56, 3. Mount Vernon-Lisbon 61, 4. Williamsburg 125, 4. Vinton-Shellsburg 132, 6. Solon 162, 7. Center Point-Urbana 188, 8. Marion 201, 9. West Delaware 244, 10. Benton Community 248, 11. Independence 322.

INDIVIDUALS

1. Grady Olberding (MVL), 15:47; 2. Alex Torres (V-S), 16:01; 3. Dawson Scheil (MVL), 16:18; 4. Brock Hilsman (CCA), 16:43; 5. Liam Crites (Grinnell), 16:44; 6. Cadel Conner (Grinnell), 16:44; 7. Barrett Jesina (South Tama), 16:58; 8. Carson Meskiman (CCA), 17:03; 9. Isaac Sorensen (CCA), 17:05; 10. Carter Easton (CPU), 17:05.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com