Sobaski victorious, ranked for 1st time

WASHINGTON - If there is one race a runner wants to dominate, it's a competition on his home course the day he is ranked for the first time.

Lance Sobaski did that Tuesday at Washington Golf and Country Club where he completed his race on a hilly course in 17 minutes, 33 seconds, 23 seconds faster than second-place Mason Moore of Sigourney. Fairfield's Alex Forrest was third in 17:58.

Washington's seniors - Hannah Rees, Cloe Telleen, Sydney Cuddeback and Josie Tanner - were honored at the beginning of the evening and Tanner went on to 'run the race of her life,” coach Stefanie Haworth said. 'It's great to have the seniors run their best times on this night.”

Sobaski went out from the gun and was never headed. But running alone can add time if there is no one to chase or no one chasing. Sobaski has a trick for such instances. 'I imagine there's a ghost right behind me and that's my (personal record), so I have to beat that ghost.”

'Whatever works to get their mind right,” Haworth said. 'Some kids think of a cheeseburger waiting for them.”

Sobaski plans to stay humble about the No. 27 ranking in Class 3A. 'It's not going to change how I work. When I'm at state, I can let it all out. Until then, I'll stay humble.”

Humble Fairfield freshman Malena Bloomquist placed second behind Mt. Pleasant's winning Abby Blint.

'I don't know how I'm doing so well. Running these hills creates pain, but it's all in my mind-set,” Bloomquist said. 'I just have to get to the top and then I can roll down.”

Fairfield head coach Jerrod Belzer has helped Bloomquist adapt to the longer high school distance by having varsity boys practice against her and run long distances, 'so that the races feel short,” she said. 'There was a group of us that ran in the summer and that has helped me, too.”

Blint was glad to win but something else meant more to her.

'It was a good race because all my teammates improved on their time which is surprising on this hilly course,” Blint said. 'Since we get to run conference here, now we know where we can make up some time and go faster in certain areas.”

It was the first time this season Mt. Pleasant had 'what we thought would be our first five all running and we saw some jumps in time,” girls coach Lyle Murray said. 'Abby was second at conference last year so we have big expectations of her. We want to just keep progressing.”

Haworth does not believe teams that ran in this meet will have any advantage when the Demons host the Southeast Conference race, which is Oct. 15. 'It's our home course, we are strong on it, and our strength is these hills.” The Demons train at Sunset Park and the loop they run is all hills.

Demon freshman Micah Rees took seventh behind Fairfield's Gavin Van Veen and Kaidyn Mickels while Mt. Pleasant's highest finisher was Ben Carthey in sixth.

Rees ran a time similar to what Sobaski ran in this meet last year.

'Micah has no idea what he's capable of,” Haworth said.

Sobaski's times have dropped because 'he's taller, stronger, just everything and he's put in a lot of work,” Haworth said.

Sobaski has some goals and he knows what he needs to do. Those goals don't involve rankings, they have to do with the meet that is run in Fort Dodge Oct. 30 this year.

'Being ranked is flattering, but not being ranked pushed me harder,” he said. 'I'm not worried about rankings like I'm worried about state.”

GIRLS TEAM SCORES 1. Mt. Pleasant 34, 2. Washington 49, 3. Fairfield 65. Highland, Iowa Valley, Sigourney did not have enough for a team score.

Top 20 medaled

1. Abby Blint (MP) 20:44.24; 2. Malena Bloomquist (F) 21:27.83; 3. Isabelle Meador (MP) 21:52.12; 4. Madison Thomann (H) 22:20.20; 5. Hannah Rees (W) 22:23.11; 6. Makenzie Kraemer (F) 22:25.16; 7. Taylor Bartholomew (W) 22:37.89; 8. Cristina Carthey (MP) 22:44.74; 9. Elsie Lange (MP) 22:48.77; 10. Carley Seeley (F) 22:53.18; 11. Abby Kleese (W) 23:22.25; 12. Cloe Telleen (W) 23:25.95; 13. Audrey Lord (MP) 3:55.25; 14. Josie Tanner (W) 23:57.46; 15. Taylor Sublette (H) 24:02.95; 16. Molly Klinzman (W) 24:09.05; 17. Ada Kendall (W) 24:16.62; 18. Greta Rothe (W) 24:24.96; 19. Claire Epperson (F) 24:37.63; 20. Tori Hinson (W) 24:53.07

BOYS TEAM SCORES 1. Fairfield 35, 2. Mt. Pleasant 46, 3. Washington 56, 4. Lone Tree 171, 5. Highland 209, 6. Keokuk 222. Sigourney did not have enough for a team score.

Top 20 medaled

1. Lance Sobaski (W) 17:33.67;2. Mason Moore (S) 17:56.97; 3. Alex Forrest (F) 17:58.46; 4. Gavin Van Veen (F) 18:06.38; 5. Kaidyn Mickels (F) 18:15.39; 6. Ben Carthey (MP) 18:38.66; 7. Micah Rees (W) 18:39.49; 8. Luke Ryon (MP) 18:51.39; 9. Nathan McWilliams (MP) 18:51.50; 10. Blake Holden (F) 19:07.64; 11. Logan Lee (MP) 19:17.70; 12. Isaac Rynders (MP) 19:20.3; 13. Brecken Courtright (F) 19:23.03; 14. Cameron Vongpanya (W) 19:25.98; 15. Gannon McNamee (MP) 19:33.71; 16. Elijah Morris (W) 19:36.32 16; 17. Gabe Feldmann (MP) 19:41.54; 18. Drew Horak (W) 19:45.66; 19. Nick Saltzman (LT) 19:52.22; 20. Peyton Snakenberg (W) 20:03.24