IMS's Spencer repeats as 1A champion

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RESULTS **FORT DODGE -- Bill Spencer wasn't hanging back. Promise."Actually, I was running too hard," he said. "I just try to keep pace. Everybody was going out way too fast."You'd think they would learn."Holding pace early meant an ordinary spot in the pack. Holding pace late meant a second consecutive state championship.A senior at Iowa Mennonite, Spencer repeated as the Class 1A individual boys' champion at Lakeside Golf Course. He finished in 15:51.That's remarkable, considering his season was turned upside down about a month ago.Spencer injured a hip during practice. He missed two weeks of practice, then returned in time for the district meet Oct. 21. He won that meet despite considerable pain.Saturday, the pain lifted."I feel fine," he said.A half-mile into the race, Spencer was in 30th place. By the mile mark, he was 15th and surging. He led by the 2-mile point, and won by 10 seconds over Taylor Huseman of Manson-Northwest Webster.Cedar Falls NU High was the boys' team champion with 107 points. Elkader Central was second, with 140. Kyle Wagner led Central's effort with a 12th-place finish.Pekin romped to its second 1A title in three years (the Panthers were 2A runners-up last year), scoring 45 points. Earlham was second with 87 points.Emily Franks of Northeast captured the individual girls' title in 14:47.