Girls win, Boys disappoint at Bobcat Cross Country Invite

Paxson Picken ’20 and Ben Kinman ’19 compete at the Marshalltown Cross Country meet Sep. 6. Picken finished 61st with a time of 17:47.

Evan Newcomb, Sports Editor

The girls Cross Country team has started their season of strong with a win in JV and Varsity at the Bobcat Cross Country Invite in Marshalltown. They were lead by two time all-state runner Brooke McKee ’20 who won the race with a time of 19:24 and asserted why she is a favorite to win the state meet. Right behind McKee rounding out the scoring were Aleah Tenpas ’22, Bella Heikes ’21, Clara Toot ’20 and Faith Nead ’22 who finished 10th, 12th, 13th and 14th with times of 20:01, 20:03, 20:09 and 20:12. They finished with 50 points, 44 points above second place Waukee. Samantha Strauss ’21 and Lauren Urban ’19 rounded off the Johnston runners in 42nd and 47th place with times of 21:08 and 21:15. The girls are asserting their dominance as the top ranked team in the state and will hope to continue it throughout the season.

The boys cross country team had a disappointing start to their season with a 10th place finish and varsity, but they placed second in the JV race. Luke Perman ’19 currently ranked 25th in the state lead the team with a 19th place finish and a time of 16:50. Yohana Yual ’21 and Paxson Picken ’20 finished 58th and 61st with times of 17:43 and 17:47. They were followed by Ben Kinman ’19 and Joe Schaefer ’19 who finished 77th and 80th with times of 18:06 and 18:11 making their score 295, 49 points behind ninth place Cedar Falls. Nathan Tegeler ’20 and Karson Kleve ’20 finished in 81st place and 113th place with times of 18:11 and 18:57.