Varsity runners take a break; new runners step up

Clear Lake cross country teams competed at Humboldt Monday, but with a new roster of athletes.

“We rested the majority of our varsity runners this week, as we have two varsity races next week at Algona (Monday, Sept. 26) and Wartburg on Saturday (Oct. 1).  This gave some of our normal JV runners the chance to experience varsity competition,” explained Coach Tyler Havens.  “Humboldt is a challenging course and produces pretty slow times. Our main focus at Humboldt was familiarizing ourselves with the course as we will be back for the Conference Championships and it is also a potential site for State qualifying. We are looking forward to racing against some pretty good teams next week at Algona and Wartburg.”

Both the Clear Lake boys and girls teams finished in sixth place in the team standings at Humboldt.

The girls team was led by Lydia Brattrud and Rebekah Steinbron, crossing the finish line in 15th and 16th place respectively in 23:44.93 and 23:49.09.  Brooklyn Heesch was next in 25th place in 24:52.05.  Olivia Fausnaugh and Alana Evelsizer rounded out the top five for the Lions.  Fausnaugh was 41st in 25:47.44 and Evelsizer was 43rd in 25:54.45.  Allie Olthoff was right behind, placing 46th in 26:26.38. Emily Benitz covered the course in 28:31.09, good for 61st.

Isaac Smith was the top finisher for the Clear Lake boys.  He captured 20th place in a time of 20:05.95.  Caleb Jones was close behind, finishing 22nd in 20:11.86.  Aiden Hippen reached the finish line in 20:53.88 for 33rd place.  Four Lions ran as a pack and placed 45th through 48th.  Justin Kerr ran 21:26.32, Ethan Evelsizer 21:31.92, Weston Conway 21:32.61 and Cael Stucky 21:38.46.

Junior varsity races featured more up and coming Lions.  In the boys race, freshman Daniel Steinbron was sixth in a time of 21:36.37. His classmate, Colby Archer was 11th in 22:37.0.  Hudson Uetz placed 16th in 23:28.43, followed by Aidan Manemann and Cody Hua, 24th and 25th in 24:02.15 and 24:05.80.  Also competing was Lane Stroup (50th, 27:04.39), Ezra Zickefoose (51st, 27:10.09), Karsen Evans (53rd, 27:42.71), Abraham Clark (57th, 28:26.02), Jackson West (58th, 28:47.49), Jackson Eden (59th, 28:47.63) and CJ Varner (68th, 68th, 39:28.59).

Kristina Miller was the lone Lion in the girls JV race.  She finished 22nd in 32:48.12.

Team scores

Girls

IFA 51, St. Ed’s 64, Pocahontas Area 91, Humboldt 109, Manson NW Webster 116, CL JV 118, Emmetsburg 161, Algona 177, West Hancock-Ventura 251, Fort Dodge 301

Boys

Algona 44, St. Ed’s 66, Fort Dodge 95, Eagle Grove 133, Manson NW Webster 149, CL JV 157, Boone 171, Humboldt 199, IFA 244, North Union 258, Bishop Garrigan 265