Running more on his own now, Marion’s Jedidiah Osgood shines at Prairie Invitational

CEDAR RAPIDS — With the departure of former teammate Shane Erb, Marion’s Jedidiah Osgood finds himself running alone frequently in practice.

“Workouts are a little more solo,” he said.

Some meets might be, too.

Osgood pulled away in the second half of the race, and won the boys’ individual title by 20 seconds at the Cedar Rapids Prairie Invitational cross country meet Saturday morning on the College Community Schools campus.

The senior finished in 15 minutes, 46 seconds, another career best.

“The first mile, we went out really hard. I think we were at 4:48,” Osgood said. “It was a quick start, but I like quick starts because I’m able to take it out of people’s legs.

“As we started (the second lap Saturday), I fell back on my training and had trust in my legs when I didn’t think I had much left.”

There’s plenty there to trust. Osgood put in 888 miles between the state track and field meet and the first day of cross country practice. But with his old teammate Erb now at Wartburg College, most of those miles were solitary.

“My focus has been on increasing speed,” he said. “That’s kind of been my downfall the last couple of years.”

The fifth-place finisher at state last year, Osgood is rated No. 1 in Class 3A this season, and so is his team. Marion finished second to 4A No. 7 Cedar Falls on Saturday.

Cedar Falls had three top-10 finishers and scored 46 points. Marion was second with 92, followed by Iowa City West (102) and Western Dubuque (111).

Pella’s Chase Lauman was second in 16:06, four seconds ahead of Isaiah Hammerand of Western Dubuque.

Waukee claimed the girls’ team title with 91 points. Monticello, ranked No. 4 in 2A, was second with 102, followed by Cedar Rapids Prairie (116).

Cedar Falls’ Zoe Zylstra came from behind in the second half of the race to push past Fort Madison freshman Avery Rump. Zylstra was clocked in 19:40, Rump in 19:50.

Prairie’s Keirra Hess was third in 20:08.

“It was a good way to start the season,” said Hess, who placed 13th in the 4A state race last year. “I was just hoping to get out, run my race and see where I’m standing right now as an athlete.

“I was a little tired in the first lap, but I tried to stay with the girls ahead of me.”

Girls results

Teams — 1. Waukee 91, 2. Monticello 102, 3. C.R. Prairie 116, 4. Pella 127, 5. Linn-Mar 129, 6. Waukee Northwest 146, 7. Cedar Falls 157, 8. Clear Creek Amana 157, 9. Fort Madison 195, 10. Williamsburg 237, 11. Davenport Assumption 265, 12. Marion 279.

Individuals — 1. Zoe Zylstra (CF), 19:40; 2. Avery Rump (FM), 19:50; 3. Keirra Hess (CRP), 20:08; 4. Bella Webb (Waukee), 20:12; 5. Haidyn Barker (CCA), 20:22; 6. Raegan Snieder (Pella), 20:23; 7. Rachel Adamson (LM), 20:23; 8. Michelle McConkey (Waukee), 20:36; 9. Jacie Trine (Pella), 20:36; 10. Kylie Daily (Davenport West), 20:41.

Boys results

Teams — 1. Cedar Falls 46, 2. Marion 92, 3. Iowa City West 102, 4. Western Dubuque 111, 5. Pella 121, 6. C.R. Prairie 134, 7. Waukee 163, 8. Linn-Mar 176, 9. Clear Creek Amana 207, 10. Monticello 262, 11. C.R. Washington 352, 12. Fort Madison 361, 13. Davenport Assumption 391, 14. Davenport West 397.

Individuals — 1. Jedidiah Osgood (Marion), 15:46; 2. Chase Lauman (Pella), 16:06; 3. Isaiah Hammerand (WDbq), 16:10; 4. Jaden Merrick (CF), 16:29; 5. Nathan Vanderwaal (Pella), 16:39; 6. Seth Cheney (ICW), 16:52; 7. Garrett Weber (Waukee), 17:06; 8. Moustafa Tiea (ICW), 17:09; 9. Gavin Denholm (CF), 17:09; 10. John Ferguson (CF), 17:12.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com