Sobaski takes 27th, Blint finishes 43rd

FORT DODGE - In Friday's Class 3A cross-country races, Washington's Lance Sobaski ended up 27th in 17:03.9, a huge improvement from last year's 95th-place time as a sophomore of 17:48 while Mt. Pleasant's Abby Blint took 43rd, crossing in 20:28.2 in her first state tournament.

Sobaski started strong in a fast race and was able to run with a big pack most of the way. A few broke away but Sobaski stayed in that top 30-35 all race.

'He had a great kick and was able to pass a few on the last stretch,” Washington head coach Stefanie Haworth.

Sobaski had a record-breaking season as the first Demon to win a Southeast Conference title.

'We are all so proud of him and everything he has been able to accomplish,” Haworth said. 'We had a great group of fans that also made the long drive up to support him which was great.”

Sobaski may have started a little too fast and seemed to fall back a little in the second mile. He was 13th at the 1-mile mark.

'We were both hoping for a medal but the atmosphere is totally different at state and it is easy to get excited and thrown off your original game plan,” Haworth said. 'He still had a great run and has nothing to be disappointed about.”

Blint's state meet debut polished off a decorated season for the Panther junior. Blint won her first Southeast Conference championship this year and also led her team to an SEC title. Her 12th-place finish at the state qualifying meet put her in the Class 3A state field for the first time.

'I just thought she had a fantastic race,” Mt. Pleasant girls coach Lyle Murray said. 'I was so pleased for her.”

Murray says Blint was tabbed to be somewhere in the 50s or 60s based on qualifying times, but she did what she needed to do to overperform expectations.

'She's a really good runner,” said Murray. 'She's one of the best in Southeast Iowa, and I think she'll be in for a good track season.”

A season's success is measured many ways.

'The meet felt like any other state meet even though we were only there for the 3A races,” Haworth said. 'The sidelines were ringed the whole way with fans, which was great to see. It was such a fun season and so thankful to be able to have a full season.”