Raiders finish season 7th at state meet

FORT DODGE — The Williamsburg girls cross-country team finished strong.

The Raiders went into Friday’s state meet at Lakeside Golf Course in Fort Dodge ranked eighth, coming off a strong performance at their home qualifying meet, and finished seventh in the Class 3A girls’ race.

“In every weekly ranking during the season, we were between 13th and 16th ranked,” Williamsburg coach Nick Nordheim said.

“After state qualifying we moved up to eighth and then finished seventh. Running that well at the end of the season with such a young team really says a lot about this team's toughness and competitiveness.”

Temperatures were in the mid 40s, but with wind gusts up to 25 miles per hour, the temperature felt like 30.

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Channing Becker led the team with a 27th place finish in 19:28.4.

“To run with those top packs all year long is tough mentally, and she stepped up each and every meet,” Nordheim said. “I thought she came so far with her mental toughness and leadership this year.”

Freshman Maddie Gorsh nearly broke 20 minutes, running another personal best of 20:02.7, finishing 49th.

When Gorsh was asked about her performance, she said it all came back to the team, which has been a similar response from many Raiders this season.

“I feel like in the race I was calm, focused and excited because I knew that no matter how I raced, my teammates would be there saying great job, smiling and having fun,” Gorsh said.

Gorsh ends a strong freshman campaign on a high note, and will be a key piece for the Raiders next season.

“To have a personal best in her first state meet in those crazy winds is something special,” Nordheim said. “She never seems to be phased and loves to compete.”

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Aubree Wilde (72nd), Edie Axmear (83rd) and Leighton Maas (97th) rounded out the Raiders’ scorers.

Wilde came on late and stepped into a more prominent role for the Raiders as the season progressed.

“Aubree came on so strong in the last month,” Nordheim said. She's so humble and just goes about her business and has really worked hard to get to this point.“

For a young team, leadership has also been key for the Raiders.

Axmear, a junior, has been a team leader all season.

“She is such a strong leader for us no matter where she finishes,” Nordheim said.

A late-season surge from Maas, the team’s final scorer, helped the Raiders climb into the top 10 in 3A.

“Its had a direct impact on our team results,” Nordheim said. “She's been one of the major reasons for our late season surge.”

Pella claimed both the team and individual titles in the race, winning with a score of 31. Pella’s Marissa Ferebee blazed through the course in 17:47.9.

Williamsburg will return all seven competitors from the state meet next season, and has a strong eighth-grade class coming in.

Team Scores

1. Pella 31, 2. Des Moines Christian 113, 3. Mount Vernon-Lisbon 136, 4. Sioux Center 165, 5. Winterset 181, 6. Solon 201, 7. Williamsburg 223, 8. Center Point-Urbana 232, 9. Harlan 248, 10. Gilbert 253, 11. Adel ADM 255, 12. Cedar Rapids Xavier 262, 13. Dubuque Wahlert 268, 14. Ballard 281, 15. MOC-Floyd Valley 288.

Individual

Williamsburg (223): 27. Channing Becker, 19;28.4; 49. Maddie Gorsh, 20:02.7; 72. Aubree Wilde, 20:31.3; 83. Edie Axemar, 20:54.7; 97. Leighton Maas, 21:14.5; 119. Abigail Reed, 22:04.5; 126. Ella Kleinmeyer, 22:53.9