Seniors Young and Fiala Help Lead Solon to Team Title at Tipton Invitational
Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports
TIPTON – Four years of varsity cross country have provided a lot of learning opportunities for Mary Fiala.
One of the most important lessons Fiala learned came last season during what she described as a disappointing junior season.
“Last year I realized I couldn’t just go into a meet and run,” Fiala explained. “I didn’t feel very good doing that and I realized I had to start taking care of my body a little bit better.”
Fiala was a member of Solon’s state meet qualifying teams as a freshman and sophomore placing 54th and 45th individually in her first two seasons.
As a junior Fiala wasn’t one of the seven Spartans to compete at the 3A state meet.
After a couple of adjustments Fiala is back in her spot at the front of the pack for Class 3A top-ranked Solon this season.
Fiala continued a strong start to the season with a fourth-place finish at the 49th Annual Tipton Invitational on Tuesday as Solon put four runners in the top seven and rolled to the team title with 30 points.
“Honestly, I’ve done the same things as last year but this year I’m taking care of my body better and eating healthier and drinking more water,” Fiala said. “I kind of thought I could just go into it and run last year and this year I’ve done some of those little things and it’s really helped. The little differences make a big difference.”
Fiala joined teammates Kayla Young, Gracie Federspiel and Anna Quillin in the top seven on Tuesday as Solon finished 26 points in front of Class 2A No. 7 Tipton.
Regina was third with 113 points.
Young won the individual title in a time of 20:13 while Federspiel was fifth in 21:45 and Quillin was seventh in a time of 21:55.
“Our team does such a good job of pushing each other,” Fiala said. “Being so good the past few years has really motivated us and knowing that we can do really good at state this year has really motivated me to help our team.”
Fiala figures to be a big part of the equation for the Spartans this season.
The senior has been the second Solon finisher, behind Young, at each of the first three meets this season.
“She really pushed herself in the offseason and she really wants to be the best she can be,” Young said of Fiala. “It’s really inspiring and I hope that she can achieve all the goals that she wants to.”
Young continued her stellar start to the season on Tuesday pulling away from the field on a warm afternoon at Tipton City Park to win the individual title by more than 30 seconds over Cascade freshman Hallie Kelchen who was runner-up in 20:51.
“It was hot but I didn’t think it was that bad today,” Young said. “It’s been similar to some of the other days and I think running on some hot days has prepared us for today.”
Regina senior Mya Whitaker placed eighth in a time of 21:56 to lead the Regals while teammate Ruby Eastman was 21st in 23:29 and Ruby Greving was 27th in 24:48.
Tipton Invitational
At Tipton City Park
Team scores – 1. Solon 30; 2. Tipton 56; 3. Regina 113; 4. Northeast 113; 5. Cascade 117; 6. Anamosa 132; 7. Central DeWitt 196; 8. Bellevue 223; 9. Louisa-Muscatine 265
Individual leaders – 1. Kayla Young (SOL) 20:13; 2. Hallie Kelchen (CAS) 20:51; 3. Alivia Edens (TIP) 21:24; 4. Mary Fiala (SOL) 21:26; 5. Gracie Federspiel (SOL) 21:45; 6. Cenady Soenksen (NE) 21:49; 7. Anna Quillin (SOL) 21:55; 8. Mya Whitaker (ICR) 21:56; 9. Ava Remley (ANA) 21:57; 10. Laura Owen (TIP) 21:59; 11. Claire Montgomery (TIP) 21:59; 12. Faith Ketelsen (NE) 21:59; 13. Audra Coss (WIL) 22:03; 14. Hunter Jones (NC) 22:26; 15. Mara Duster (SOL) 22:29
Solon (30) – 1. Kayla Young 20:13; 4. Mary Fiala 21:26; 5. Gracie Federspiel 21:45; 7. Anna Quillin 21:55; 13. Mara Duster 22:29; 14. Lydia Hogan 22:31; 19. Sydney Dee 23:07
Regina (113) – 8. Mya Whitaker 21:56; 21. Ruby Eastman 23:29; 27. Ruby Greving 24:48; 28. Grace Gaarde 24:53; 29. Cate Klitgaard 25:01; 30. Faith Boileau 25:04; 32. Keira Sickels 25:19
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