Your Prep Sports

Two years ago Clear Creek Amana missed a trip to the state cross country meet by one point with a fourth-place finish at the state qualifying meet.

At last year’s state qualifier the Clippers returned to state but had to wait out an anxious moment or two while finishing third.

There was no drama on Thursday as Class 3A ninth-ranked Clear Creek Amana secured the first back-to-back state meet trips in program history with a runner-up finish at the 3A qualifier at Central College in Pella.

Third-ranked Dallas Center-Grimes won the team title with 34 points while Clear Creek Amana was second with 66, 31 points clear of third-place Nevada.

“I’m impressed with how locked in the boys are and how well they are working the system,” Clear Creek Amana coach Ben Robison said. “While tonight was great for Clear Creek Amana cross country, it’s just a small step towards bigger goals that we’ve got. We can’t wait to work tomorrow morning.”

Clear Creek Amana had four runners finish 13th or better while clinching the third state meet appearance in program history.

Freshman Brandon Barker led the Clipper pack, finishing fourth in 17:07.8 in his postseason debut.

Sophomore Jack Sexton was ninth in 17:21.6 while junior Cole Liebe was 12th in 17:29.6 and Nick O’Connor was 13th in 17:34.

Nevada senior Malachi Hornbuckle won the individual title in 16:35.5 while Alex Thompson of Dallas Center was second in 16:58.6.

The Clear Creek Amana girls team placed 11th with 271 points.

Pella won the girls team title with 46 points while Dallas Center-Grimes was second with 61 and North Polk was third with 68.

North Polk senior Amelia Lesher won the individual title in 19:56.1.

Kaylie Barker led Clear Creek Amana, finishing 16th in 21:09.2 missing a state meet berth by one spot.

Class 3A State Qualifier

At Central College in Pella

Boys Results

Team scores – 1. Dallas Center Grimes 34; 2. Clear Creek Amana 66; 3. Nevada 97; 4. Oskaloosa 104; 5. Pella 123; 6. Fairfield 179; 7. North Polk 189; 8. Saydel 218; 9. Norwalk 238; 10. Washington 241; 11. Chariton 282; 12. Knoxville 342; 13. Clarke 417.

Individual Results – 1. Malachi Hornbuckle (NEV) 16:35.5; 2. Alex Thompson (DCG) 16:58.6; 3. Jacob Wilcox (NP) 17:02.7; 4. Brandon Barker (CCA) 17:07.8; 5. Thomas Gauley (PEL) 17:08.9; 6. Brian Miner (DCG) 17:11.6; 7. Trenton Meggers (DCG) 17:15; 8. Jacob Waymire (DCG) 17:20.5; 9. Jack Sexton (CCA) 17:21.6; 10. Carter Huyser (OSK) 17:23.3; 11. Ean Followwill (DCG) 17:25.9; 12. Cole Liebe (CCA) 17:29.6; 13. Nick O’Connor (CCA) 17:34; 14. Brennan Horak (WAD) 17:35.5; 15. Dalton Baker (NEV) 17:36.3.

Clear Creek Amana – 4. Brandon Barker 17:07.8; 9. Jack Sexton 17:21.6; 12. Cole Liebe 17:29.6; 13. Nick O’Connor 17:34; 28. Kaden McAreavy 18:16.3; 32. Caleb Alcorn 18:19.2; 63. Brandon McCarty 20:01.5.

Girls Results

Team scores – 1. Pella 46; 2. Dallas Center-Grimes 61; 3. North Polk 68; 4. Norwalk 170; 5. Chariton 171; 6. Oskaloosa 171; 7. Fairfield 192; 8. Washington 201; 9. Knoxville 216; 10. Nevada 222; 11. Clear Creek Amana 271; 12. Clarke 353.

Individual Results – 1. Amelia Lesher (NP) 19:56.1; 2. Caroline McMartin (PEL) 20:01; 3. Ashley Bloomquist (FAI) 20:06.6; 4. Lauren Coon (OSK) 20:21.9; 5. Annika Pingel (PEL) 20:24.2; 6. Sailor Anderson (CHA) 20:25.3; 7. Ashley Blommers (PEL) 20:28; 8. Miranda Muhlstein (DCG) 20:31.6; 9. Lexi Smith (DCG) 20:36.5; 10. Sophie Blanchard (NP) 20:37.9; 11. Emily Patterson (NP) 20:41.2; 12. Kaitlyn Murano (DCG) 20:57.4; 13. Emma Angus (DCG) 21:00.2; 14. Chelsea Jorgensen (PEL) 21:01.7; 15. Ruth Vahnenko (CHA) 21:03.1.

Clear Creek Amana – 16. Kaylie Barker 21:09.2; 59. Ally Loren 24:52.4; 62. Olivia Fairholm 25:23.3; 64. Ellie Waterbury 25:32; 70. Madeline Fox 25:52.1; 71. Ellen Austin 25:53.1; 73. Kayla Jiras 26:04.4.