Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

IOWA CITY – A season of high school cross country has given Brick Kabela experience.

An offseason spent logging training miles has provided the Solon sophomore a strong fitness base.

That leaves just one simple thing left for Kabela to do this season – continue to get faster.

Kabela did just that on Thursday in a fourth-place finish at the Bob Brown Cross Country Classic at Kickers Soccer Complex in Iowa City.

“I feel like I am in the perfect spot to get faster right now,” Kabela said. “I feel like this is nowhere near my peak. I did a lot of work over the offseason so I have the mileage built up I am just ready to get faster and faster now.”

Kabela battled hot and humid conditions last Saturday when he finished fifth at the season-opening Anamosa Invite.

With temperatures in the 70s and overcast skies on Thursday Kabela took advantage finishing second in the group B race and fourth overall in the 14-team field that was divided into two races.

“This was a lot better, the temperature was amazing today compared to Saturday when it was really humid and hot and we were all feeling it,” Kabela said. “I just felt really good today on this course, the weather was perfect, I can’t ask for much better honestly.”

Kabela had a strong debut season a year ago finishing 26^th at the state meet.

He spent the offseason logging miles with departed seniors Ben DeValk and Tyler Bilskie in preparation for what Kabela hopes is a breakthrough sophomore season.

“I think he owes a lot of credit to Ben and Tyler, last year they kind of showed him what it takes and he learned from that,” Solon coach Emy Williams said. “He has put a lot of miles in this summer and watching him run he goes 100 percent, 100 percent of the race. That has a lot to do with his success too.”

Kabela clocked a 17:32 in the heat and humidity last week.

He took more than eight seconds off that time on Thursday finishing in a time of 17:23.79.

“I feel like my times aren’t quite where I want them to be right now but I feel like I am running really smart races and my race strategy is perfect,” Kabela said. “I just have to give it time and I will be right where I want to be.”

Western Dubuque senior Eli Nauman went out early in the group B race and pulled away to win the overall title in 16:10.72.

Kabela quickly moved to the front of the pack trailing Nauman and took control, finishing nearly 17 seconds in front of Tipton freshman Clay Bohlmann.

“Going into it I was just trying to stay ahead of the pack and if people are with me kind of tuck in but I felt good and I went around them,” Kabela said. “The Western Dubuque kid was way out so I knew I wasn’t going to catch him but I wanted to stay ahead of that pack and that’s exactly what I did so I felt pretty good about that.”

Fellow sophomore Mike Yeomans finished 18^th in 18:04.39 as Class 3A No. 15 Solon placed fifth in team standings with 128 points.

Class 3A No. 4 Marion had the top two finishers in the group A race and won the team title with 49 points while 4A No. 4 Liberty High was runner-up with 57 points.

Senior Christian Montover led a trip of Liberty High runners in the top eight by placing fifth in 17:36.7.

Sophomore Aidan Decker was sixth in 17:38.79 and senior Gavin Keeney was eighth in 17:40.49.

“I thought they did well, in the second half that is usually our strength but give props to Marion for going out and kicking our butt in the first mile,” Liberty High coach Josh Hildebrand said. “I think that was good because this was our first meet so it was good to see that competition outside of our own team.”

Bob Brown Cross Country Classic

At Kicker Soccer Complex

Team scores – 1. Marion 49; 2. Liberty High 57; 3. Tipton 87; 4. Western Dubuque 90; 5. Solon 128; 6. Clear Creek Amana 148; 7. Regina 230; 8. Monticello 245; 9. Cascade 267; 10. Clinton 280; 11. Anamosa 322; 12. Prince of Peace 343; 13. Calamus-Wheatland 383; 14. Wilton 419

Individual leaders – 1. Eli Nauman (WD) 16:10.72; 2. Shane Erb (MAR) 16:31.38; 3. Jedidiah Osgood (MAR) 16:47.17; 4. Brick Kabela (SOL) 17:23.79; 5. Christian Montover (ICL) 17:36.7; 6. Aidan Decker (ICL) 17:38.79; 7. Clay Bohlmann (TIP) 17:40.32; 8. Gavin Keeney (ICL) 17:40.49; 9. Blake Roling (MAR) 17:40.99; 10. Marcus Blount (POP) 17:48.39; 11. Derek Fangmann (WD) 17:49.46; 12. Ty Nichols (TIP) 17:52.61; 13. Ethan Keeney (ICL) 17:55.85; 14. Chris Oberbrockling (MAR) 17:57.82; 15. Troy Butler (TIP) 17:58.68

Liberty High – 5. Christian Montover 17:36.7; 6. Aidan Decker 17:38.79; 8. Gavin Keeney 17:40.49; 13. Ethan Keeney 17:55.85; 25. Jon Kamba Kaleka 18:39.37; 26. Boden Bisgard 18:39.75; 33. Logan Nelson 18:58

Solon – 4. Brick Kabela 17:23.79; 18. Mike Yeomans 18:04.39; 28. Ty Becicka 18:49.95; 38. Ethan McLaughlin 19:06.78; 40. Grant Bumsted 19:09.42; 43. Nate Ferguson 19:13.57; 44. Nolan Pauley 19:15.68

Clear Creek Amana – 19. Gavin Zillyette 18:07.89;24. Peyton Stadler 18:35.12; 29. Brock Hilsman 18:51.81; 37. Jackson Schloss 19:02.9; 39. Cash Jensen 19:08.62; 46. Adam Boblenz 19:12.48; 47. Fred Schultz 19:29.28

Regina – 20. Aidan O’Neil 18:09.45; 42. Adam Boblenz 19:12.48; 49. Riordan Smith 19:38.44; 55. Sam Welter 19:52.61; 64. Colin Olney 20:27.79; 74. Joe Polyak 21:07.04; 77. Jacob Barnett 21:15.66

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