Article Photos

Advertisement

The defending state champion Algona boys finished third in the Class 3A team standings and four Messenger area runners turned in Top-10 performances on the boys side of the state cross country meet Saturday afternoon at Kennedy Park.

Taylor Huseman (Manson NW), Ryan McMahon (Algona), Chad Rutledge (Algona) and Zach Thompson (Eagle Grove) received all-state medals as their treat on Halloween after running on a saturated Lakeside Golf Course.

Huseman finished fourth overall in Class 1A in a time of 16:45, shaving 26 seconds off his 28th place time from his sophomore run at the state meet. The junior finished two seconds behind the second and third place runners.

"I worked hard all season trying to work for this," said Huseman. "I've never had a feeling like this at state. The hard work pays off I guess. I had a lot of help and support from my coach (Kyle Teeselink) and teammates who helped me get here."

The Eagles' Zach Thompson capped off a successful career under Hall of Fame coach Jerry Becker with the best state finish of his career in the 2A race a sixth place run of 16:36. Thompson just missed the Top-10 last year as a junior, finishing 11th in 16:45.

"I am very proud of Zach," Becker said. "He ran a very smart race. His mile split was right where we wanted it. It is hard to run alone without the team, but he ran an intelligent race. He's had a great career. He was given some good talent and used it to the extreme. Nothing went to waste. That's what you want out of an athlete don't waste the talent you are given."

Thompson's start played a big role in his overall finish. His one-mile split was the fastest time of the year.

"It feels amazing because I know I've worked really hard this year and really wanted a Top-10 finish last year," Thompson said. "It feels good to get it. I knew I had to fight for it so many times. Anytime anyone came up on me I tried to go with them.

"Coach Becker has helped me so much through cross country, and school, and just every aspect of life. He's just a great guy."

For the Bulldogs, McMahon (junior) and Rutledge (senior) turned in another Top-5 finish. McMahon third as a sophomore was fourth in Class 3A at 16:09.

"I just didn't have it down the finish," said McMahon. "The team ran well. It was a good day. We were shooting for it (state title) and everyone ran hard. My person goal for next year is to win it all. Our team goal is to get back to state. We are losing four runners so it is going to be tough."

Rutledge was fifth in a time of 16:13 after passing numerous runners in what would be his final 100-yard kick as a prep.

"We ran well as a team and knew what we had to do," said Rutledge. "It felt really good to be back at state. Anyone can show up and run well. Winning state last year was a big confidence booster for us. It helped with our mental aspect of knowing we can go out and do it."

The Bulldogs (118 points) finished third behind runner-up Boone (109) and champion Pella (95). Kyle Walker (17:14, 27th), Alex Kenne (17:18, 31st), and Joe Schattschneide (17:46, 51st) were the other three scorers for the Bulldogs.

"Alex and Kyle were our next two runners. They did a good job of moving up throughout the race," said AHS coach Chad Ahlers. "Kyle has always moved up real well in the last half of the race and he did that today. They put themselves into position to be in the Top-30 range."

Laurens-Marathon finished 10th in Class 1A. The Chargers were led by the running of

Trent Kischer (18:00, 26th), Bennett Barglof (18:10, 34th), Chad Kischer (18:17, 36th) and David Jones (18:22, 40th).

Alex Lamp of Webster City finished 39th (17:18) in 3A and Humboldt's Nick Olthoff was 85th (18:32) in 2A.