Ryan Murphy: He’s back, man

MARION - A passer-by interrupted Ryan Murphy in mid-interview.

'You're back, man,” said the interloper. 'You're back.”

Murphy smiled and nodded. Yeah, he's back.

In just his second race of the season, Murphy ran at the head of the pack the whole way and earned runner-up honors at the MVC Valley Division cross country meet Thursday at the Tuma Soccer Complex.

'I felt great,” said Murphy, a junior at Linn-Mar. 'With 800 meters to go, I made a move to open it up a little bit.”

Cedar Falls' Isaac Smith won the race in 15:38. Murphy was next in 15:41, a personal best.

That in itself is impressive. But given what Murphy has endured this fall, 'impressive” gives way to 'remarkable.”

Since an August workout, Murphy has battled a balky IT band in his left leg, which was still taped Thursday. The last six weeks has been a buffet of ice, physical therapy, massage, stretching, strengthening and light running.

But now, well, he's back, man.

Cedar Falls captured the divisional title, placing all five scorers in the top 10 and scoring 30 points. Linn-Mar was second with 42, followed by Iowa City West (70) and Dubuque Senior (73).

Smith and Murphy ran in a four-man pack with Linn-Mar's Michael Mather and Cedar Falls' Sam Schillinger most of the way.

'It was a fast race,” Murphy said. 'I think they said we were at 9:57 at the 2-mile mark.”

Iowa City West rolled to the girls' crown, tallying 34 points. Linn-Mar was the runner-up with 54, followed by Cedar Falls (86).

Hannah Fusselman of Cedar Rapids Kennedy captured top honors in 18:50.

'Most of the race, I was trying to draft. It was really windy out there,” said Fusselmann, a sophomore. 'I'm overwhelmed. I didn't think this was possible. I'm really happy with it.”

Tia Saunders led West's title charge, finishing second in 18:59. Bailey Nock was fourth, Olivia Moore was sixth.

Linn-Mar's Maddie Mann and Cedar Rapids Jefferson's Meredith Koenigsfeld were third and fifth, respectively.

MVC VALLEY DIVISION CROSS COUNTRY MEET

At Tumas Soccer Complex

Girls Results

Teams - 1. Iowa City West 34, Linn-Mar 54, 3. Cedar Falls 86, 4. C.R. Jefferson 118, 5. Dubuque Senior 122, 6. Dubuque Wahlert 142, 7. C.R. Kennedy 173.

Individuals - 1. Hannah Fusselman (CRK), 18:50; 2. Tia Saunders (ICW), 18:59; 3. Maddie Mann (LM), 19:02; 4. Bailey Nock (ICW), 19:05; 5. Meredith Koenigsfeld (CRJ), 19:06.

I.C. West - 2. Saunders, 4. Nock, 6. Olivia Moore, 19:07; 10. Ellie Gretter, 19:43; 12. Claire Ronnebaum, 19:51.

Linn-Mar - 3. Mann, 7. Morgan Garcia, 19:24; 8. Amber Decker, 19:37; 16. Deanna Newhouse, 19:55; 20. Abby Van Rheenen, 20:11.

Jefferson - 5. Koenigsfeld, 11. Sarah Hanna, 19:50; 32. Megan Ely, 20:43; 33. Adriana Hargrove, 20:46; 37. Caleigh Meyer, 21:08.

Kennedy - 1. Fusselman, 38. Ali Meyer, 21:10; 42. Hannah Ratzer, 21:28; 45. Courtney Wampole, 21:52; 47. Anna Klein, 22:01.

Boys Results

Teams - 1. Cedar Falls 30, 2. Linn-Mar 42, 3. Iowa City West 70, 4. Dubuque Senior 73, 5. Dubuque Wahlert 163, 6. C.R. Jefferson 177, 7. C.R. Kennedy 185.

Individuals - 1. Isaac Smith (CF), 15:38; 2. Ryan Murphy (LM), 15:41; 3. Michael Mather (LM), 15:45; 4. Sam Schillinger (CF), 15:53; 5. Dalton Gosch (LM), 16:05.

Linn-Mar - 2. Murphy, 3. Mather, 5. Gosch, 15. Johnny Clymer, 16:48; 17. Colin Johnston, 16:50.

I.C. West - 8. Patrick Karanja, 16:20; 11. Kolby Greiner, 16:28; 13. Matthew Schneider, 16:36; 18. Andrew Murley, 16:50; 20. Ali Ali, 17:00.

Jefferson - 31. Barrett Wise, 17:23; 35. Eli Sarantakos, 17:34; 36. Nate Homan, 17:35; 37. Robert Larson, 17:36; 38. Mac Karr, 17:38.

Kennedy - 28. Derek Girling, 17:22; 30. Jacob Ciabatti, 17:23; 40. Jackson Middlekauff, 17:47; 42. Riley Patton, 17:54; 45, Gage Cadenhead, 18:03.

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com