IOWA CITY – Montezuma freshman Ellen Cook and sophomore Alivia Cline are headed to the state cross country meet.
The two punched their tickets during the Class 1A state qualifer meet on a raw, camp and windy Thursday afternoon, Oct. 21, at Kickers Soccer Complex.
In order to qualify for state, runners had to be on one of the two qualifying teams, or be one of the top 10 runners not already a member of one of those teams.
Cook finished seventh overall in 22:18.20. Cline was eighth in 22:29.93.
The Bravettes were not able to repeat their team qualification from a year ago. But, their qualifier was in Panora then, and the mix of teams was different.
Regina and North Linn, ranked seventh and eighth in the class, were co-favorites. They finished in a tie with 42 points each. Montezuma, the state’s 20th-ranked team, placed third out of the five full teams that competed.
Cook and Cline will compete in the state meet in Fort Dodge at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 30.
Coach Kevin Gartman said a number of Montezuma runners posted their best times in this meet.
In the boys race, Montezuma placed fifth out of 10 full teams that competed.
Carter McKee was Montezuma’s top finisher, taking 25th out of 86 total runners, in 19:42.83.
State Qualifier at Iowa City
Girls team points – 1, Regina 42. 2, North Linn 42. 3, Montezuma 68. 4, Lynnville-Sully 84. 5, Columbus 119.
Winner – Meghan Wheatley, North Linn, 19:51.51. There were 59 total runners.
Montezuma places, times – 7, Ellen Cook, 22:18.20. 8, Alivia Cline, 22:29.93. 18, Haley Van Der Hart, 23:20.47. 19, Madison Johannes, 23:37.36. 21, Lydia Singleton, 24:19,34. 26, Alexa Wheaton, 24:57.75. 51, Makenna Johannes, 27:03.06.
Boys team points – 1, Regina, 41. 2, Columbus, 66. 3, North Linnn 86. 4, Winfield-Mt. Union 138. 5, Montezuma 174. 6, English Valleys 175. 7, WACO 179. 8, BGM 186. 9, Holy Trinity 186. 10, Hillcrest Academy 205.
Winner – Aiden O’Neill, Regina, 17:20.03. There were 86 total runners.
Montezuma places, time – 25, Carter McKee, 19:42.83. 33, Jayden Ross, 20:30.38. 36, Colton Benson, 20:51.51. 42, Jack Erselius, 21:18.97. 62, Bryson Stockman, 22:18.58. 64, Jusiah Wetering, 22:38.25. 72, Kohen Holland, 24:17.70.
