Emily Burmeister’s return to Fort Dodge resulted in a banner day for the Linn-Mar girls cross country team.

Burmeister, a 2001 Fort Dodge Senior High graduate, led the Lions to a third place team finish in Class 4A here Saturday at Lakeside Golf Course.

Linn-Mar also had three runners place inside the Top-15, led by junior Micah Poellet, who was fourth.

“This was such an exciting day,” Burmeister said. “I have an amazing group of young ladies. It is always bittersweet coming back to Fort Dodge. This course is so beautiful and I love this park.

“It definitely brings back a lot of good memories.”

Burmeister has been a coach within the Linn-Mar district for almost a decade. She was the middle school head track coach for nine years, spent two years as both the assistant cross country coach, two years as a boys assistant and was the girls assistant last season.

The Lions finished 11th last season overall as Poellet was the race winner.

Freshman Jordyn Beck was 12th overall for Linn-Mar, with teammate Chloe Skidmore finishing 13th to complete her junior season. Junior Lilly Geelan was 41st overall.

Senior Dimia Burrell and Jamison Feldman ran their final races this fall for Burmeister.

“This was just really, really exciting,”said Burmeister, who is also a teacher at Linn-Mar. “We knew going in it was the final race for our two seniors and the team really wanted to come together and be on the deck for them.

“They did that and it feels so good.”

Johnston was the team champion followed by Dubuque Senior. Ames senior Camille Jackson clocked a state-record time of 17:23 to win the individual race.

West Des Moines Dowling won the boys team title as Pleasant Valley’s Max Murphy captured gold.