Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

SOLON – Running at her home course always seems to bring on a few extra nerves for Emma Bock. It also seems to bring out the best in the Solon sophomore.

Bock finished sixth on her home course on Monday to help Solon place fourth as a team at its own Solon Invitational on a sunny afternoon at the Solon Nature and Recreation area.

“I think we all get really nervous for this one because we know that everyone is here to watch us but this is our big meet and we get the most excited for this one,” Bock said. “I get nervous, but those type of nerves are good, they help on a day like this.”

Junior Kiersten Conway placed 12th as the host Spartans finished with 100 points trailing a trio of ranked teams.

Class 4A No. 13 Bettendorf put four runners in the top 13 and won the team title with 49 points.

Marie Hostetler won the individual title by nearly two minutes to lift Class 2A top-ranked Mid-Prairie to a runner-up finish with 65 points while 2A second-ranked Williamsburg was third with 84 points.

“There are a lot of great teams and really good runners here and that’s exciting to be able to run against them at home,” Bock said. “It really helps that we run here every day because we know all the little hills and the blind corners and the turns so we know when to go fast and where the harder parts of the course are.”

Bock finished sixth in a time of 20:42.2, 21 seconds behind runner-up Hannah Bientema of Bettendorf.

Hostetler cruised to the individual title in 18:24.1 while Clear Creek Amana standout freshman Haidyn Barker was third in 20:29.7.

“I felt good today,” Barker said. “I was happy with how it went and how I ran.”
Bock missed a top-five finish by five seconds finishing behind West Liberty senior Jimena Fierro who was fifth in 20:37.7.

“I felt good,” Bock said. “I felt like I was really mentally strong today and it helps when you are one your home course that motivates you to stay up with those strong runners.”

Conway placed 12th in 20:59.5 while sophomore Meghan O’Neill was 26th in 21:52.5 and freshman Mary Fiala was right on her heels placing 27th in 21:53.3.

“This is probably my favorite meet some people don’t really like running at home because you are there all the time but I love it so much,” Conway said. “Emma and I talk about it running at home is the best with all of our supporters.”

Heavy rain over the weekend left puddles and muddy condition on parts of the course but it didn’t slow the Spartans who used their knowledge of the home course to their advantage.

“There was one section in the back where it was muddy and a little hard to get through and then some of the hills had puddles at the bottom and it was hard to get your feet unstuck there but it wasn’t that bad,” Conway said. “I think it helped knowing the course.”

Solon Invitational

At Solon Nature and Recreation Area

Team scores – 1. Bettendorf 49; 2. Mid-Prairie 65; 3. Williamsburg 84; 4. Solon 100; 5. North Scott 149; 6. Mount Vernon-Lisbon 150; 7. Central DeWitt 164; 8. Clear Creek Amana 209; 9. Tipton 228; 10. Davenport North 253

Individual leaders – 1. Marie Hostetler (M-P) 18:24.1; 2. Hannah Bientema (BET) 20:21.5; 3. Haidyn Barker (CCA) 20:29.7; 4. Sami Foht (BET) 20:30.4; 5. Jimena Fierro (WL) 20:37.7; 6. Emma Bock (SOL) 20:42.2; 7. Mitzi Evans (M-P) 20:43.7; 8. Taylor Winegarden (WIL) 20:51.9; 9. Ruth Jennings (WIL) 20:54.5; 10. Carly Small (CD) 20:55.9; 11. Grace Schaefer (WIL) 20:56; 12. Kiersten Conway (SOL) 20:59.5; 13. Sarah Schmidt (BET) 21:00.5; 14. Ella Schmit (BET) 21:05.4; 15. Abbagail Evans (M-P) 21:10.8

Solon – 5. Emma Bock 20:42.2; 11. Kiersten Conway 20:59.5; 26. Meghan O’Neill 21:52.5; 27. Mary Fiala 21:53.3; 31. Kaia Holtkamp 22:23.1; 34. Nicole Shafer 22:25.4; 37. Ella Duster 22:33.4

Clear Creek Amana – 3. Haidyn Barker 20:29.7; 43. Kayla Jiras 22:52; 53. Karsyn Stratton 24:10.3; 54. Avery Allan 24:13.1; 56. Madeline Fox 24:23.6

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