Respectable season opener for CL cross country teams

    Clear Lake cross country teams made a very respectable showing at their first meet of the season.  The Lions participated in the Newman Invitational Tuesday, Aug. 3.  In the varsity girls race, the Lions finished as runner-up in the team standings, while the varsity boys were fifth overall.

Girls race
    A trio of Lion runners finished among the top 10 in the girls race.  Steph Faught led the way, placing fourth in 16:28.  Trudy Peterson was right behind, coming in fifth in 16:29 and Sierra Greiman was eighth in 16:42.  Rounding out the team scoring for the Lions was Rebecca Baker (41st, 18:31) and Amie Adams (42nd, 18:34).  Jade Ullrich also competed, covering the course in 20:51 for 79th.
    Kamille Kronemann, of Garner-Hayfield/West Hancock/Ventura, won the race in a time of 16:12.  Kronemann, who is ranked seventh in Class 3A, helped lead the No. 5 (3A) Cardinals to the team title with 41 points.  Clear Lake was second with 100 points. Bishop Garrigan was third with 109 points and Mason City had 116 points.
    “Being the first meet, we didn’t know what to expect from the other teams,” said Co-Coaches Lothar Meyer and Jerry Morris.  “We have some runners that have put in more than 225 miles over the summer, which has really helped their base.”

Boys race
    The Clear Lake boys were led by Antonio DiMarco, who placed seventh overall in a time of 17:35.  The effort was a personal best for the sophomore.   Alex Blum was next, placing 18th in 18:21.  Jacob Baker was 24th in 18:38.  Also contributing the the score was Jake Iverson (32nd, 18:56) and Troy Jandebeur (47th, 19:31).  Also running in the varsity race was Austin Anderson (60th, 20:06) and Pierce Jordan (64th, 20:25).
    Mason City won the varsity boys race with 65 points.  Osage was second with 83.
    Ventura’s Joel Toppin helped the Garner-Hayfield/West Hancock/Ventura team to a third place finish overall with 98 points.  Toppin was eighth overall in 17:38.   North Iowa edged Clear Lake with 118 to 128.  Iowa Falls/Alden rounded out the top six with 130.
    Mason City Newman’s Adam Dakon won the boys race in a time of 16:46.
    “Like the girls, we have some runners who put in at least 225 miles over - Read More Via e-Edition