Becker, Axmear qualify for state

WAVERLY — Williamsburg’s Channing Becker and Edie Axmear ran huge personal bests to qualify as individuals for the Class 3A state cross-county meet.

Becker and Axmear placed fifth and 11th at the state qualifying meet at the Wartburg Max Championship cross-country Course in Waverly Wednesday afternoon.

The top three teams and top 15 individuals qualified for next week’s state meet.

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“It’s kind of nerve-wracking just as a freshman,” Becker said on all her success this season. “It’s been good having a team behind me to support.“

Becker has been the number one runner for the Raiders all season and has improved throughout, overcoming multiple obstacles.

The Raider freshman went out right behind the lead pack and finished strong for the top-five finish.

Axmear also started strong and reaped the rewards.

“I’ve been training really hard, and I had a big goal of running in the 19s,“ Axmear said following the race. ”I just had to speak it into existence and really push myself.“

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“They ran with guts and took a chance,” Williamsburg head coach Nick Nordheim said of Becker and Axmear. “It’s fun getting to see all that hard work pay off and I’m super proud of them.”

On the girls’ side, the field was loaded with five top-20 teams and unranked Clear Lake, who ended up taking the last qualifying team spot.

The Raiders, without their usual No. 3 runner, fought to a fifth-place finish in the loaded field, missing third place by 12 points.

“This site was a lot harder than it looked on paper,” Nordheim said. “ I think the teams that qualified are going to do very well at state.”

Missing state by 12 points was not due to a lack of good performances from the Raiders. All seven girls ran personal or season bests.

“It’s hard to be disappointed, but when you’re that close it is hard not be,” Nordheim said. “It’s a bittersweet feeling.”

Becker and Axmear will run at the state meet next Friday in Fort Dodge.

“I’m excited,” Becker said.

Axmear made state for a second straight season.

“I’m excited to go back again as a sophomore,” Axmear said. “It’s a really fun course to run, and it’s such a great environment.”

On the boys’ side, the team placed fifth in the deep, competitive field.

The field had three of the top seven Class 3A teams in the state. They took all three qualifying spots.

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All seven boys ran season or personal bests. Nile Busch and Colin Reed broke the 17-minute barrier.

Busch missed qualifying individually by just one spot, placing 16th.

“There’s no seniors, and they’re all coming back next season,” Nordheim said.

GIRLS

Team Scores

1. Mount Vernon-Lisbon 47, 2. Decorah 89, 3. Clear Lake 98, 4. Clear Creek Amana 103, 5. Williamsburg 110, 6. Dubuque Wahlert 119, 7. Iowa Falls-Alden 171, 8. Waverly-Shell Rock 208, 9. Hampton-Dumont-CAL 284, 10. Belmond-Klemme 295, 11. Webster City 322

Individual Results

Top 15: 1. Evelyn Moeller (MVL), 18:31.1; 2. Addison Doughan (Clear Lake), 18:53.3; 3. Lucy Murphy (Wahlert), 19:02.2; 4. Kiersten Swart (MVL), 19:04.4; 5. Channing Becker (Williamsburg), 19:13.1; 6. Olivia Volkmann (Decorah), 19:30.1; 7. Saylor Schmitt (Clear Lake), 19:32.9; 8. Edith Dawson (MVL), 19:36.0; 9. Demi Beaubein (IFA), 19:45.1; 10. Kira Barker (CCA), 19:45.3; 11. Edie Axmear (Williamsburg), 19:52.3; 12. Piper Smith (IFA), 19:56.0; 13. Willa Berning (Wahlert), 19:56.7; 14. Raelyn Newhouse (Decorah), 19:57; 15. Sara Kinzenbaw (CCA), 19:58.7

Williamsburg (110): 5. Channing Becker, 19:13.1; 11. Edie Axmear, 19:52.3; 27. Ashlyn Hoffman, 20:39.9; 33. Maelyn Parson, 21:03.1; 34. Makenna Capper, 21:05.8; 36. Leighton Maas, 21:10.4; 40. Anya Rivera, 21:19.0

BOYS

Team scores

1. Mount Vernon-Lisbon 64. 2. Decorah 72, 3. Clear Creek Amana 76, 4. Clear Lake 148 (tiebreaker), 5. Williamsburg 148, 6. Dubuque Wahlert 160, 7. Charles City 180, 8. Waverly-Shell Rock 191, 9. Webster City 251, 10. South Tama County 280, 11. Belmond-Klemme 325, 12. Iowa Falls-Alden 332, 13. Hampton-Dumont-CAL 361

Individual Results

Top 15: 1. Austin Soldwisch (WSR), 15:27.0; 2. Grady Olberding (MVL), 15:32.2; 3. Jayden Brookins (Wahlert), 16:07.6; 4. Xander Graeser (Charles City), 16:14.2; 5. Dawson Scheil (MVL), 16:16.2; 6. Nick Williams (Charles City), 16:22.1; 7. Isaac Sorensen (CCA), 16:26.0; 8. Barrett Jesina (STC), 16:27.4; 9. Brock Hilsman (CCA), 16:29.2; 10. Davis Coppola (Decorah), 16:31.8; 11. Carson Meskimen (CCA), 16:33.9; 12. Grant Zilka (Decorah), 16:37.5; 13. Gavin Roske (Clear Lake), 16:38.2; 14. Seamus O'Connor (MVL), 16:41.4; 15. Landyn Hook (Decorah), 16:44.0

Williamsburg (148): 16. Nile Busch, 16:48.8; 19. Colin Reed, 16:56.2; 32. Hayes Arwine, 17:26.7; 36. Finn Brummell, 17:37.8; 45. Charlie Koons, 17:59.7; 53. Hudson Nunnelley, 18:29.7; 56. Tyler McMullin, 18:33.5