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Fedler, Dykstra take 1st
MP sweeps big school individual titles, WACO senior wins at former home course
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
MT. PLEASANT — The course was plenty crowded at Mt. Pleasant Community High School on Tuesday evening, but a few area runners found all the room they needed at the front of the pack.
Tuesday’s race saw two area runners win. Mt. Pleasant’s Avery Fedler took the girls’ race, and WACO’s Jude Dykstra led the way on the boys’ side.
For Fedler, it was her first time competing at home as a high school athlete. The standout Panther freshman had cruised to victory on the same course in middle school, and finally got to show out on the big stage, finishing in 18 minutes, 53.530 seconds.
“It was really exciting getting to represent the home crowd, and getting to see all of my friends and family supporting me,” Fedler said. “It's really awesome to get a win for them.”
Fedler had to battle to the bitter end against another Avery, in Ft. Madison’s Avery Rump. The two were side by side for almost the entire race, but Felder wound up beating Rump by 10 full seconds.
“It really helps my mental space,” says Fedler about her competition. “I'm not used to racing other people, so being able to race other people really helps me.”
Fedler’s teammate, Quintrie Lee, wasn’t far behind the head of the pack. Lee finished fourth place among big school runners and seventh overall. Nelle Peterson was 37th.
In the small school ranks, t here was plenty of Mid-Prairie toward the top, including Brooklyn Stutzman, who finished third overall with a time of 19:13.770. She was the top runner of the Class 1A and 2A girls.
Rebekah Wallington finished 11th overall for the Golden Hawks. Kyrie Poll and Hannah Rodgers were 14th and 15th, and Nikkari Poll finished 33rd.
WACO had a nice showing on the girls’ side as well. Josie Dykstra crossed in sixth place overall. Macie Carter was ninth.
The Fairfield girls had three runners in the Top-30. Alex Jo Steward took 19th. Caroline Van Pelt was 25th, and Naomi Stiemsma finished 30th.
Jude Dykstra and Mediapolis’ Simon Wendel battled to the bitter end in the boys’ race, with the former beating Wendel by under three seconds, finishing with a final time of 16:23.897.
“I haven't beaten him yet this season, and that was my only goal coming into this race,” Dykstra said. “I started pushing with three-hundred to go.”
Dykstra, a former Mt. Pleasant student, won his first ever race at his old home course. He and teammate Locken Henderson both crossed in the Top-10, with Henderson taking ninth.
“I get more motivated coming back to Mt. Pleasant, just because of the home crowd, and I know so many of the people here,” Dykstra said. It's a great environment.“
WACO’s Garrett Landau finished 14th. Gavin Slagel took 18th, and Tristan Luitjens crossed in 35th.
It was another big meet for Mt. Pleasant’s Silas Hulett, who has come on strong in the local ranks. Hulett took fifth place overall and first among big school runners, beating out a trio of Ft. Madison runners to take the spot in 17:00.777.
“It was actually really tough,” Hulett said. “I wasn't feeling really well today, and I just wanted to run my own race.”
Hulett was the only Panther in the Top-40, though teammate Ben Leishman did cross in 45th.
“He had a monster race tonight to win the large class division,” said Mt. Pleasant head coach Mitch Anderson. “Best race of his career. He ran like you want to at your home meet."
Mid-Prairie’s Max Swartzentruber took 12th place overall. Luke Brokaw took 26th.
Columbus put a clump of runners in the Top-25. Ryan Villa took 17th. Kevin Villa finished 19th. Drake Marin was 20th. Victor Tovar finished 21st. Cade Storm placed 23rd, and Elias Gonzalez-Bravo finished 24th.
Fairfield’s best runner was John Miller, who finished 32nd. Blake Leopard was 43rd.
