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Experienced Manson Northwest Webster builds from prior success

Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Manson Northwest Webster's Preslie Oswald runs in a meet during the regular season. Oswald placed in the Top-15 at state a year ago.

MANSON — The Manson Northwest Webster cross country program will make the short 24-mile trek back to the state meet this Saturday looking to finish the year strong again.

The Cougar girls advanced after a runner-up showing at the state qualifier, while the boys team pushed both Lane Moline and Quinn Lachelt through as individual qualifiers.

Seniors Maddie Moline and Kelsey Widlund are joined by junior Paige Condon, sophomores Preslie Oswald and Abi Shannon, and freshmen Amber Aljets and Raegan Wooldridge in the MNW lineup for head coach Theo Clark.

The Cougar girls ran at state a year ago, placing 11th overall. Moline and Oswald both secured Top-15 finishes. Condon, Shannon and Widlind were also part of the lineup that competed inside Kennedy Park at Lakeside Golf Course a year ago.

“All season long we ran every meet like it could be our last and we are all very grateful to have even had a full season, much less the state meet,” Condon said. “I’m just so happy for Maddie and our other seniors that their last season wasn’t cut short.”

Condon finished 42nd a season ago in Fort Dodge with a time of 21:25, but admits it was a “rough race” for her personally.

“This year, my goal is to improve from last year and place in the Top-30,” Condon said. “As far as our team goal goes, we have talked and believe that we can place Top-5.

“We have all worked and trained very hard all season, so our goals have been set high. But we know and believe that we can reach them.”

That belief comes from Clark, who has created a family bond around the MNW program.

“Coach encourages us in everything we do, starting in junior high clear through high school,” Condon said. “Just two years ago, we struggled to even have a scoring varsity team. Now, we have a JV squad.

“I believe he really changed the program in a positive way.”

Condon added the squad is anxious about Saturday’s race.

“I’m very excited,” Condon said. “Our team has improved a lot this season and we are all super excited to go into (the state meet) with something to prove and maybe surprise a few people.

“After qualifying as m, I feel like we have earned the right to be named one of the best in the state.”

Algona’s Moriah Knapp, a sophomore, will compete in the 3A race with Eagle Grove’s Lea Friedl and Emmetsburg’s Isabella Householder, running for a final time as seniors in 2A. East Sac County junior Emma Schroeder races in 1A.

Humboldt’s Quinton Orr and Eric Wittrock race in 3A with Isaiah Nebbe of Clarion-Goldfield/Dows and Drake Weland from Eagle Grove set for 2A. Bishop Garrigan’s Quinn Swift and North Union’s Nicholas Schiltz also qualified in 1A.

The 4A and 3A races are on Friday at 10:30 a.m. (4A girls), 11 a.m. (4A boys), 3:30 p.m. (3A girls) and 4 p.m. (3A boys).

On Saturday, the 2A girls race is at 10:30 a.m., followed by 2A boys at 11 a.m. The 1A girls race is set for 3:30 p.m. with boys to follow at 4 p.m.

The state cross country meet is in Fort Dodge for the 28th consecutive season.

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