Cardinals bring home championships from home cross country meet

It was busy week of running for the Garner-Hayfield/Ventura/West Hancock cross country teams, as they competed in two meets.

On Monday, Sept. 30, GHV/WH hosted seven other schools at the Garner Country Club.  Both the boys and girls teams brought home championships.  The boys won with a score of 44, topping West Fork, 50 and Osage, 56.  The girls won with 39 points, beating Osage with 43 and North Iowa with 64 points.

“Both teams ran very well on Monday at our home meet,” said Coach Jeff Short.

Joel Toppin was the top runner for the boys, capturing first place overall with a time of 16:28.  Chase Smith was fourth with a time of 17:03.  Rounding out the varsity score was Derek Brown, 11th, 18:07; Anthony Siegrist, 13th, 18:22; and  A.J. Arnold, 15th, 18:31.

Tiara Van Gerpen led the girl’s team with a time of 16:37, good enough for fourth place.  Maria Gonzalez was sixth in 16:41, followed very closely by Maddie Tusha, who was seventh in 17:07.  Maribel Zamago was 10th in 17:12 and Bri Bier was 12th in 17:22.

“The competition for the seventh varsity spot has been very good this season and I think that is what makes a good team,” said Short.

On Thursday, Oct. 3, the teams competed at Hampton.

The boys had a tough time in the field of seven.  They finished fourth with 75 points.  Charles City won the meet with 27 points, followed by West Fork with 58, and Osage with 72 points.

Toppin and Smith led the Cardinals, finishing sixth and seventh respectively.  Toppin ran the course in 17:07, while Smith finished in 17:09.  Also placing for the varsity was Arnold, 19th, 18:47; Derek Lonneman, 22nd, 19:08; and Siegrist, 21st, 19:01.

The girls had more success, finishing second in a field of 10, with 62 points.  Charles City won the meet with 36 points.

Gonzalez led the team with a fifth place finish in 16:46.  Tusha was 11th with a time of 17:24, followed by VanGerpen, 13th, 17:28; Zamago, 15th, 17:32; and Bier, 18th, 17:38. 

“I am glad to have Homecoming week over.  The runners can now concentrate on the remainder of the regular season and mentally prepare for the post season,” said Short.

GHV/WH is at Forest City on Monday, Oct. 14, beginning at 4:30 p.m.