Monticello makes it 3 straight

FORT DODGE -- Once it became a kickers' race, Michael Melchert liked his chances.

"He likes to surge a lot throughout the race," Melchert said, referring to his end-of-the-race foe, Thomas Pollard of Gilbert. "I thought if I was still with him with 400 meters left, I could outkick him."

He thought so, and he did so.

Melchert's individual championship helped stake Monticello to its third consecutive Class 2A boys' title at the state cross country meet Saturday at Lakeside Golf Course.

The Panthers won it comfortably, placing four runners in the top 16 and scoring 63 points. Gilbert was second with 115.

"Winning it again, that means so much to us," said Ben Ahlrichs, who added a fifth-place finish. "We didn't know how it would go at the start of the season. We really tried to raise up the sophomores, and they really responded."

Two of those sophs, Joran Loes and Matt Manternach, finished 13th and 16th. They're now the torchbearers of this budding dynasty.

Melchert and Pollard traded the lead numerous times throughout the race. Pollard would surge ahead, then Melchert would respond.

"I couldn't ask for a better senior year," Melchert said. "(Pollard) is an amazing runner, probably the best junior in the state. To be up there with an elite runner like that, it's an honor. I think I showed a lot of heart, and it's the best feeling I could have.

"I hope the little kids in Monticello see us on the news, look at us and think they can do it, too."

Led by former West Des Moines Dowling runner Grace Gibbons, Gilbert claimed the girls' title with 59 points. Defending champion Unity Christian was second with 76 points, Cascade third with 95.

Gibbons breezed to the individual title in 14:28. Cascade freshman Becca McDermott was next, in 15:01.

"I really didn't know what to expect," McDermott said. "I was pretty nervous."

McDermott was in a seven-girl pack with a half-mile to go, then had the most at the end.

"I really pushed up that last hill," she said. "I just wanted to finish strong."

Iowa City Regina's girls were fifth, Monticello sixth. Eric Lenz of Tipton was fourth in the boys race. 

CLASS 2A RESULTS

GIRLS

Teams – 1. Gilbert 59, 2. Unity Christian 76, 3. Cascade 95, 4. Western Christian 124, 5. Iowa City Regina 172, 6. Monticello 181, 7. South Central Calhoun 188, 8. North Fayette Valley 208, 9. Greene County 238, 10. Davis County 241, 11. East Marshall 242, 12. North Polk 281, 13. Roland-Story 301, 14. Panorama 303, 15. Northeast 321.

Individuals – 1. Grace Gibbons (Gilb), 14:28; 2. Becca McDermott (Casc), 15:01; 3. Allison Higgins (GrCo), 15:04; 4. Carly Rahn (Gilb), 15:09; 5. Miranda Moss (Sioux Center), 15:14; 6. Kassidy DeJong (Unity), 15:20; 7. Dondi Schmidt (Spirit Lake), 15:21; 8. Sadie Timms (Gilb), 15:22; 9. Adiranna Kammerer (ICR), 15:23; 10. Kenedie Kats (WChr), 15:24; 11. Ellen Schlarmann (Monti), 15:33; 12. Jordan Bos (Unity), 15:34; 13. Jacklyn Hoogland (Unity), 15:35; 14. Kylie Kelchen (Casc), 15:37; 15. Sydney Batz (SCC), 15:49.

BOYS

Teams – 1. Monticello 63, 2. Gilbert 115, 3. Unity Christian 138, 4. East Marshall 158, 5. Shenandoah 169, 6. North Polk 182, 7. Mid-Prairie 212, 8. Northeast 215, 9. Ida Grove OA-BCIG 220, 10. Osage 225, 11. Albia 230, 12. Tipton 246, 13. Fort Dodge St. Edmond 263, 14. South Central Calhoun 264, 15. Hudson 325.

Individuals – 1. Michael Melchert (Monti), 15:18; 2. Thomas Pollard (Gilb), 15:20; 3. Weslley Greder (Gilb), 15:57; 4. Eric Lenz (Tipton), 16:06; 5. Ben Ahlrichs (Monti), 16:07; 6. Danny Halva (North Fayette Valley), 16:12; 7. Tanner Goettsch (Spirit Lake), 16:15; 8. C.J. May (Apl-Parkersburg), 16:19; 9. Eli Kaczincki (NE), 16:25; 10. Haile Duden (Sioux Center), 16:26; 11. Colton Dorpinghaus (Albia), 16:32; 12. Nathan Bradley (West Marshall), 16:38; 13. Jordan Loes (Monti), 16:40; 14. John Crew (DNH), 16:41; 15. Tyler Randall (Osage), 16:43.