McKane Sets Course Record as West High Wins Eastern Iowa Invitational
Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports
CEDAR RAPIDS – The course record at the Seminole Valley Park cross country course had stood for more than five years prior to this fall.
It took just two weeks for a couple of speedsters from Iowa City to shatter the previous marks.
West High senior Alex McKane became the second runner in as many meets to set a course record at Seminole Valley this season when he blazed to the individual title in 15:17.13 on Thursday at the Eastern Iowa Cross Country Classic in Cedar Rapids.
“It was really exciting,” McKane said. “I was just trying to race to the best of my ability and for me that means racing against the best guys that I can and against the best times so it was nice to get the course record.”
For Cedar Rapids Prairie standout Tysen VanDraska set the course record of 15:39.34 at the 4A state qualifier in 2015.
That record held until earlier this month when City High junior Ford Washburn clocked a 15:27.89 at the Cedar Rapids Invitational on September 9.
The new record for Washburn would stand for only 14 days.
McKane trimmed more than 10 seconds off the record time of Washburn on Thursday setting a new personal best while tying the West High school record held by Daniel Gardarsson.
“I felt pretty good,” McKane said. “We have had a couple of really hard weeks of workouts but I just wanted to put it out there before getting into some bigger races like Wartburg and postseason. I felt pretty good, it’s a gorgeous day out and a great course so I was excited to be here.”
The individual title from McKane helped Class 4A No. 15 West High win the team title with 32 points.
Seth Cheney was third in 16:34.74 and Caden Noeller was fourth in 16:36.08 as the Trojans put four runners in the top 10.
4A No. 18 Cedar Rapids Kennedy was runner-up with 47 points followed by Bettendorf with 69 and 3A No. 15 Clear Creek Amana with 88. Regina was sixth with 174.
Thursday was all about McKane who sprinted away from the pack early and ran alone for most of the race.
“I was talking to my coaches at kind of where I would have wanted people to be on the course, spots where I knew I would have a higher chance of losing focus mentally,” McKane said. “I was just telling myself my goals over and over again and really making it hurt because that’s what the sport is about and that’s how I know I am pushing myself to be the best.”
McKane, who entered ranked second in the 4A individual rankings, finished more than 45 seconds in front of runner-up Miles Wilson of Cedar Rapids Kennedy.
“I knew the biggest thing was not having guys to run with but it was nice to race with Miles Wilson for a while up front and then going solo makes it tougher but chasing the gator is always nice too,” McKane said. “I really wanted to know those for pacing I think it was 4:50 and then 9:48 at that point I knew it was a little slower than I wanted it to be so I had to bring it home the last 800.”
Asher Overholt added an eighth-place finish for West High in a time of 17:04.53.
Gavin Zillyette led Clear Creek Amana placing fifth in a time of 16:39.43 while Jackson Schloss was 11th for the Clippers in 17:12.1.
Regina was led by Aidan O’Neil who placed 10th in a time of 17:06.69.
Eastern Iowa Classic
At Seminole Valley Park
Team scores – 1. West High 32; 2. Cedar Rapids Kennedy 47; 3. Bettendorf 69; 4. Clear Creek Amana 88; 5. Cedar Rapids Washington 166; 6. City High 174; 7. Regina 180; 8. Davenport West 213
Individual leaders – 1. Alex McKane (ICW) 15:17.13; 2. Miles Wilson (CRK) 16:03.14; 3. Seth Cheney (ICW) 16:34.74; 4. Caden Noeller (ICW) 16:36.08; 5. Gavin Zillyette (CCA) 16:39.43; 6. Henry McMahan (CRK) 16:59.65; 7. Jacob Bruns (CRK) 17:01.51; 8. Asher Overholt (ICW) 17:04.53; 9. Chase Wakefield (BET) 17:05.24; 10. Aidan O’Neil (ICR) 17:06.69; 11. Jackson Schloss (CCA) 17:12.1; 12. Walter Blackman (BET) 17:13.1; 13. Ethan Cole (BET) 17:13.47; 14. Xavier Potts (BET) 17:13.74; 15. Bence ABonyi (CRK) 17:18.99
West High (32) – 1. Alex McKane 15:17.13; 3. Seth Cheney 16:34.74; 4. Caden Noeller 16:36.08; 8. Asher Overholt 17:04.53; 16. Robert Strong 17:19.67; 28. Logan Waters 17:51.4; 33. Moustafa Tiea 17:5867
Clear Creek Amana (88) – 5. Gavin Zillyette 16:39.43; 11. Jackson Schloss 17:12.1; 18. Brock Hilsman 17:29.6; 25. Peyton Stadler 17:43.92; 29. Cameron Kimm 17:53.01; 30. Konner Kenne 17:53.52; 34. Noah Yost 18:07.19
Regina (180) – 10. Aidan O’Neil 17:06.69; 41. Joe Maley 18:33.3; 42. Adam Boblenz 18:33.52; 43. Riordan Smith 18:44.55; 44. Sam Welter 18:52.52; 49. Colin Olney 19:20.71
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