Springville-Central City sophomore Emily Staal marks Class 1A state debut with cross country title

FORT DODGE — The cooperative merger of the Springville and Central City cross country teams moved from Class 2A to 1A after the 2016-17 school year.

Emily Staal — a homeschool student from Central City — competed in the 2A meet as a freshman and nearly cracked the top 10, finishing 12th against a field that included three eventual state champions.

To coincide with her team's move to Class 1A, Staal put in longer, more arduous hours of training in hopes of making a sizable leap in the standings.

Her efforts paid off in a big way.

'I guess I've been practicing pretty hard this year,' said Staal, who won the 1A girls' individual state title in 18:36, 23 seconds better than Emma Lucas of Bedford. 'More, I think, than last year and I had more experience with it. … I tried to think of it as any other meet.'

Staal rebounded from a slow start and maneuvered through the pack until she found the clearing. Once she was out in front, the crown appeared to be a formality.

'The first part was hard for me to get out,' Staal said. 'I don't know if I wasn't warmed up enough. After I passed them, I tried to get away right away.'

South Winneshiek senior Felicity Taylor was fifth (19:25).

Hudson won the 1A girls' team race with 104 points, while Nodaway Valley (56) claimed the 1A boys' title for the third year in a row.

North Union senior Riley Bauer (16:14) repeated as 1A boys' individual champion.

Prep cross country

Saturday

STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

At Fort Dodge

(Lakeside Golf Course)

CLASS 1A BOYS

Teams —

1. Nodaway Valley 56, 2. Bellevue 82, 3. Madrid 136, 4. Woodward Academy 166, 5. South Winneshiek 173, 6. Starmont 184, 7. Pekin 191, 8. ACGC 194, 9. Hudson 222, 10. Ogden 238, 11. Tri-Center 264, 12. Denver 264, 13. Calamus-Wheatland 271, 14. Earlham 328, 15. Council Bluffs St. Albert 332

Individuals —

1. Riley Bauer (North Union), 16:14; 2. Sean McDermott (Madrid), 16:20; 3. Brycen Wallace (Nodaway Valley), 16:23; 4. Jerry Jorgenson (Treynor), 16:30; 5. Wyatt Kelly (Hudson), 16:31; 6. Buddy Darting (Wilton), 16:32; 7. Zach Nie (Gilbertsville Don Bosco), 16:35; 8. Carson Rygh (Lake Mills), 16:38; 9. Grant Brouwer (Sibley-Ocheyedan), 16:39; 10. Hunter Rickels (Calamus-Wheatland), 16:40

South Winneshiek (173):

10. Paul Hageman 17:05, 16. Derek Dietzenbach 17:15, 29. Paxten DeVilbiss 17:36, Emmett Schwartzhoff 18:00, 68. Jamison Meyer 18:27

Starmont (184):

17. Mitchell Hayes 17:18, 34. Caleb Wittman 17:46, 35. Graham Schuchmann 17:48, 41. Carson Willie 17:56, 57. Christopher Baumgartner 18:09

CLASS 1A GIRLS

Teams —

1. Hudson 104, 2. Panorama 115, 3. Lansing Kee 133, 4. Logan-Magnolia 140, 5. South Winneshiek 156, 6. Elkader Central 177. 7. Denver 184, 8. Fort Dodge St. Edmund 204, 9. Alta-Aurelia 210, 10. Pekin 211, 11. Eagle Grove 228, 12. Marquette Catholic 245, 13. AHSTW 258, 14. Mason City Newman 274, 15. Baxter 302

Individuals —

1. Emily Staal (Springville), 18:36; 2. Emma Lucas (Bedford), 18:59; 3. Kate Crawford (ACGC), 19:15; 4. Peyton Pogge (Tri-Center), 19:25; 5. Felicity Taylor (South Winneshiek), 19:25.2; 6. Ella Waddle (Panorama), 19:32; 7. Taylor Sporrer (Logan-Magnolia), 19:36; 8. Janette Schraft (East Mills), 19:40; 9. Elise Emmick (GMG), 19:42

Lansing Kee (133):

7. Katie Brennan 20:18, 29. Makayla Walleser 21:27, 30. Makayla Peters 21:28, 33. Nicki Wood 21:29, 34. Rachel Walleser 21:32

South Winneshiek (156):

1. Felicity Taylor 19:25, 25. Melissa Ward 21:19, 31. Sami Bohr 21:28, 41. Ashley Kriener 21:43, Jenna Knutson 22:14

Elkader Central (177):

6. Ciera Deitchler 20:07, 21. Jasmine Mueller 21:14, 38. Deserai Weber 21:40, 45. Cassie Larson 21:50, Danielle Weber 22:34

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