Western Dubuque’s Alyssa Klein runs to Prairie cross country title

CEDAR RAPIDS -- When seconds count, you conserve energy any way you can.

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Alyssa Klein’s sunglasses weren’t a fashion statement.

“I don’t like to be squinting the whole time,” said Klein, a senior at Western Dubuque, and one of several Bobcats who opted for the shady specs at Saturday morning’s Cedar Rapids Prairie Invitational cross country meet on the College Community Schools campus

“I’ve been wearing them lately when it’s really sunny.”

Klein was a surprising champion (at least to herself) in the girls’ competition, finishing in 20 minutes, 36 seconds.

“My goal, really, was just to get in the top five,” Klein said. “I’m really happy with my place. My time wasn’t where I wanted, but it will have to do.

“I’m happy with the way I ran my race, building person by person as I passed them.”

Fort Madison’s Avery Rump built a 45-second lead in the first half of the race, but succumbed to the heat in the final 200 meters and didn’t finish.

“I didn’t see her until I saw her down on the track,” said Klein, who finished four seconds ahead of runner-up Maddie Gallagher of Cedar Falls. “I had no idea I was going to win until the last 20 seconds of the race.”

Due to the forecast, Prairie officials opted in advance to make the meet a varsity-only competition.

Cedar Falls was the class of the field, both boys and girls. Both Tigers teams scored 21 points in the Black Division.

The Tigers had five of the top nine girls, seven of the top nine boys, including champ Jaden Merrick.

A sophomore and last year’s runner-up, Merrick pulled away in the second half of the boys’ race and ran in 15:47. Western Dubuque’s Quentin Nauman, another soph, was second in 16:14.

“After the first half mile, I was thinking, ‘This wind sucks,’” Nauman said. “After a mile, though, it felt so nice.

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“This is a start. I had a little too much left at the end.”

Prairie’s Nick Lee was fifth in the boys’ race; Cooper Cook of Marion was sixth.

Hallie Kelchen of Cascade was the fifth girl to finish.

Monticello’s girls and Williamsburg’s boys were Orange Division champions.

Girls results

TEAMS

Black Division -- 1. Cedar Falls 21, 2. C.R. Prairie 64, 3. Linn-Mar 79, 4. Clear Creek Amana 101, 5. Western Dubuque 122, 6. C.R. Washington 138.

Orange Division -- 1. Monticello 41, 2. Marion 71, 3. Davenport Assumption 80, 4. Fort Madison 90, 5. C.R. Xavier 104, 6. Williamsburg 119.

INDIVIDUALS (combined)

1. Alyssa Klein (WDbq), 20:36; 2. Maddie Gallagher (CF), 20:40; 3. Josee Simonson (CF), 20:51; 4. Zoe Zylstra (CF), 20:53; 5. Hallie Kelchen (Cascade), 20:55; 6. Emersyn Fonley (CF), 21:05; 7. Leah Koehler (Monti), 21:08; 8. Olivia Divoky (CRP), 21:12; 9. Anna Becker (CF), 21:18; 10. Hailey Kozloski (LM), 21:27.

Boys results

TEAMS

Black Division -- 1. Cedar Falls 21, 2. C.R. Prairie 66, 3. Dubuque Senior 77, 4. Clear Creek Amana 97, 5. Western Dubuque 130, 6. C.R. Washington 182, 7. Davenport West 195.

Orange Division -- 1. Williamsburg 57, 2. Adel ADM 62, 3. Fort Madison 70, 4. Marion 81, 5. Monticello 142, 6. C.R. Xavier 156, 7. Davenport Assumption 158, 8. Cascade 201, 9. West Liberty 283.

INDIVIDUALS (combined)

1. Jaden Merrick (CF), 15:47; 2. Quentin Nauman (WDbq), 16:14; 3. Luke Hartman (CF), 16:15; 4. Ahmed Aldamak (CF), 16:23; 5. Nick Lee (CRP), 16:23; 6. Cooper Cook (Marion), 16:34; 7. John Ferguson (CF), 16:53; 8. Charlie Wiering (CF), 17:01; 9. Torin Timmerman (ADM), 17:01; 10. Connor Martin (CF), 17:06.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com