Breaking News
Local Sports

Area runners set for state stage

By Dana Becker, Sports Writer 2 min read
Submitted photo The Manson Northwest Webster girls and Levi Ollinger of the MNW boys qualified for the state meet on Thursday in Panora. Team members are (left to right): Nora Nelson, Hayden Oswald, Tia Brennan, Peyton Peterson, Maddie Wittrock, Kayleigh Pugh, Kathleen Hildreth, Ella Oswald and McKenna Becker. Ollinger is in front. Coaches are Matt Balsley (far left) and Kelsey Halverson (far right).

The best of the best in cross country will gather here Friday and Saturday for the co-ed state championships.

Class 1A is up first, hitting the course inside Kennedy Park and Lakeside Golf Course on Friday at 10:30 a.m., with 2A starting at 2 p.m. On Saturday, 3A runs at 10:30 a.m. and 4A concludes the event at 2 p.m.

Along with St. Edmond qualifying for 1A as a team, the Manson Northwest Webster girls will be first out the gates. Joining them will be Bishop Garrigan's Julia Swift and Newell-Fonda's Danika Meyer.

The Cougars' seven will consist of Tia Brennan, Kathleen Hildreth, Ella Oswald, Hayden Oswald, Payton Petersen, Kaylee Pugh and Maddie Wittrock. They last qualified as a team in 2020, finishing eighth overall.

Levi Ollinger of Manson Northwest Webster advanced in the boys race, as did East Sac County's Lucas Aragon and Easton Zinnel from West Bend-Mallard.

In 2A, Eagle Grove's London Parrott, South Central Calhoun's Declan Spencer, Emmetsburg's Ben Cox and Carson Gump from Clarion-Goldfield/Dows all qualified.

Saturday's 3A girls race will include Humboldt's trifecta of Aubry Fisher, Avery Fisher and Jade Malo, along with Charli Dodds from Algona.

Juniors Swift and Meyer were both at state a year ago, with Swift finishing 13th overall and Meyer 87th. Avery Fisher was 35th at state as a sophomore and Aubry Fisher placed 47th.

Starting at /week.