Danville-New London boys off to state cross-country

ANAMOSA — The Top-2 teams in the Class 2A boys cross-country rankings were in Anamosa for the state qualifying district meet on Thursday, and both will be in Fort Dodge for the state meet next weekend.

Top-ranked Danville-New London was unable to gain some week-early bragging rights against second-ranked Tipton, but they were able to get one of the three qualifying spots up for grabs.

The defending state champion D-NL Bears, who had not run on the course before Thursday, finished second, scoring 44 points. That was 11 back of Tipton’s winning mark of 33.

“We have to get things figured out and when we get up there do what we have to do,” Bears coach Lucas Gourley said. Gourley had told the team to just qualify and said practices have been more about next week than about Thursday.

D-NL was led by individual champion Ty Carr, who crossed the tape in 16:43. “I really didn’t have to labor at all,” Carr said. “Just get some separation and kind of put them away so I can coast to the end.”

Alexander Julian was fifth, Rylan Martin seventh, and Seth Bailey 13th to give D-NL four runners in the Top-15.

The Top-15 individual runners make state, but the top teams filled most of those slots. Just five of the Top-15 finishers were individual qualifiers.

AJ Bonnesen was 18th for D-NL. His shoe came untied halfway through. “That kind of got in my head from then on.” Bonnesen said his form has resulted in injuries the past couple seasons. ”Whenever one of us is dealing with something, another one steps up. We work together through everything we do.”

The D-NL girls scored 178 points to finish seventh. Kamryn Sherwood, a sophomore, led the Bears.

BOYS TEAM SCORES

1. Tipton 33; 2. Danville-New London 44; 3. Monticello 122; 4. North Fayette Valley 126; 5. Anamosa 136; 6. Northeast 152; 7. Starmont West Central 163; 8. Mediapolis 210; 9. Camanche 273; 10. Beckman Catholic 282; 11. Louisa-Muscatine 326; 12. Union 328; 13. West Liberty 359; 14. Wilton 380.

Danville-New London — 1. Ty Carr (12) 16:43; 5. Alexander Julian (12) 17:09; 7. Rylan Martin 17:13; 13. Seth Bailey (12) 17:52; 18. Allen Bonnesen (11) 18:06; 24. Carter Fesler (10) 18:33; 42. Talan Whaley 19:15.

GIRLS TEAM SCORES

1. Monticello 49; 2. Tipton 84; 3. Beckman Catholic 87; 4. Union 97; 5. Northeast 155; 6. Starmont West Central 171; 7. Danville-New London 178; North Fayette Valley 181; 9. Wilton 254; 10. Anamosa 258; 11. Springville 262; 12. Mediapolis 291.

Danville-New London — 28. Kamryn Sherwood (10) 22:02; 33. Carissa Mackey (12) 22:26; 34. Kenzey Logan (12) 22:38. 35. Cassidy Yaley (12) 22:39; 48. Abby Arnett (9) 23:56; 66. Madelyn Buck (11) 26:01; 68. Penelope Sowell (10) 26:22.