Whitaker, Regina Headed Back to State After Runner-up Finish at State Qualifying Meet
Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports
IOWA CITY – Since she started running cross country in junior high Regina senior Mya Whitaker has become familiar with the course at the Kicker Soccer Complex.
Very familiar.
“I feel like I know every inch of this place,” Whitaker said.
It makes sense.
The Class 1A state qualifying meet at Kickers on Thursday was the 30th career race for Whitaker at her ‘home’ course.
30.
3.0.
While Whitaker admits she doesn’t remember every one of the races at Kickers over the years but she won’t forget her final race on the course any time soon.
Whitaker finished third at the state qualifying meet for the third consecutive season and became the second four-time qualifier in Regina program history while helping the Regals to a runner-up team finish on a sunny afternoon in Iowa City.
“I would rank this one up there,” Whitaker said of her final race at Kickers. “All the state qualifiers that we’ve had are up there because they are all great memories. This last one is high on the list.”
Whitkaer finished third behind a pair of freshmen.
Hudson’s Desi Lang won the individual title in a time of 20:37.5 and Danville freshman Alaina Gourley was runner-up in 21:06.9.
Whitaker was third in 21:27.3 to secure a fourth trip to the Class 1A state meet that will be held next Friday at Lakeside Golf Course in Fort Dodge.
“It went by so fast,” Whitaker said. “I don’t even remember half the races and yet I came into this so nervous because it was a big deal for me. I am just happy that we made it and I am really excited for next week.”
A stalwart in the Regina line for the past three seasons Whitaker has helped Regina finish in the top six at the state meet each of the past three seasons.
On Thursday she made the Regals got a chance to add to that streak next week.
“The stability with Mya is so important to our team and just her leading by example,” Regina coach Chad Swope said. “The girls have a good string going the last few years and Mya has stepped up and filled those shoes of the girls before them and has been great.”
Whitaker led a group of four Regals that finished in the top 16 on Thursday as No. 11 Regina finished runner-up with 51 points.
Fourth-ranked Hudson had five runners in the top 11 and won the team title with 28 points.
“My goal was to qualifying individually and qualify as a team,” Whitaker said. “We hit both of those goals and I couldn’t by any more proud.”
The three Regina runners to finish behind Whitaker were all making their state qualifying meet debuts on Thursday.
Freshman Ruby Greving and Ruby Eastman finished ninth and 12th respectively while first-year senior Grace Gaarde was 16th.
“They have made so much improvement and I am so impressed by how much they have improved this season, that’s true for everybody,” Whitaker said. “We all have dropped times and that’s because of our coaches that we are able to do that.”
Greving posted a top-10 finish in a time of 22:15.3 while Eastman was right on her heels in 22:24.1.
Gaarde was 16th in 23:13.9 while the only Regina runner with postseason experience other than Whitaker, junior Cate Klitgaard was 23rd in a time of 24:05.2.
Junior Faith Boileau added a 25th place finish in 24:09.6.
“They impressed me every single day,” Whitaker said of her teammates . “I am in complete awe and I admire them so much for how well they were able to do this season.”
Class 1A State Qualifier
At Kickers Soccer Complex
Team scores – 1. Hudson 28; 2. Regina 51; 3. Danville 88; 4. Montezuma 92; 5. Bellevue 119; 6. Columbus 151
Individual leaders – 1. Desi Lang (HUD) 20:37.5; 2. Alaina Gourley (DAN) 21:06.9; 3. Mya Whitaker (ICR) 21:27.3; 4. Carlie Jo Fusco (Durant) 21:51.3; 5. Ella Steele (HUD) 21:51.9; 6. Vivian Zaruba (Lone Tree) 21:52.9; 7. Kamryn Sherwood (DAN) 22:04.7; 8. Savannah Schneider (HUD) 22:14.6; 9. Ruby Greving (ICR) 22:15.3; 10. Mollie Hansen (HUD) 22:15.7
Regina (51) – 3. Mya Whitaker 21:27.3; 7. Ruby Greving 22:15.3; 10. Ruby Eastman 22:24.1; 13. Grace Gaarde 23:13.9; 18. Cate Klitgaard 24:05.2; 20. Faith Boileau 24:09.6; 26. Ellie Johnson 25:15.4
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