DiMarco will represent Clear Lake at State Meet

Clear Lake’s Antonio DiMarco earned his second trip to the State Cross County Meet 

Saturday with a seventh place finish at the State Qualifying Meet in Waverly Thursday, Oct. 24.

DiMarco, a senior, led the Lions boys team, which placed seventh in the 15-team field.  The top three teams and top 10 individuals qualify for the State Meet.  DiMarco posted a time of 16:49.29 over the 5,000 meter course.  

Jacob Day, of Charles City, won the race in a time of 16:29.  Joel Toppin, from Garner-Hayfield/Ventura/West Hancock was runner-up in 16:36.

“Antonio ran a very smart race.  He stayed in the middle of the lead pack and drafted most of the race. That strategy set him up nicely for the final stretch of the race,” said Coach Nick DiMarco.

In addition to DiMarco’s achievement, the Lions also had notable performances from senior Jake Iverson and sophomore Ryan Faught, who placed 22nd and 31st respectively in 17:27.52 and 17:45.55.  Rounding out the varsity scoring was Tanner Storbeck, a junior, and Joe Schiller, a senior, who each posted career-best times.  Storbeck finished 40th in 18:12.12, while Schiller was 59th in 18:44.60.

Also competing in the race was Spencer Orr, 60th in 18:46.74, and Jacob Welper, 70th in 19:20.05.

Girls 

results

The Clear Lake girls also faced tough qualifying competition at Waverly.  Decorah captured the team title with 36 points, followed by Charles City with 76 and Vinton-Shellsburg with 88.  The Lions finished 12th in the 13-team field.

Logan Anderson finished her senior season of competition with a career-best time of 17:19.88, placing 55th.  Classmates Trudy Peterson and Jaci Ullrich were close behind, placing 58th and 61st respectively.  Peterson covered the 4,000 meter course in 17:29.0 and Ullrich ran a 17:41.61. Courtney Anderson and Miranda Mundt also had career-best times.  Anderson was 80th in 19:01.42 and Mundt finished 91st in 23:14.77.

“This was by far the most difficult district in the state,” added Coach DiMarco. “I am very proud of the effort and commitment that the departing seniors gave to the cross country program.”

Those seniors on the boys team included: DiMarco, Iverson, Schiller, Welper, Justin Jurgens, Jake Harle and Garrett Kunzman.  Seniors Logan Anderson, Courtney Anderson, Peterson, Ullrich, Mundt and Kirsten Reineke competed on the girls team.