Solon Senior Kabela ‘On a Mission’ In Final Prep Season
Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports
IOWA CITY – Putting in the work or logging the miles has never been a problem for Brick Kabela.
Leading up to his final prep season there was a little extra motivation for the hard-working Solon senior.
“I had the motivation this summer because I knew this year was one last ride,” Kabela said. “I knew if I wanted to be up there in the front packs at these races I had to do a lot more than I was used to.”
A four-year stalwart in the Solon lineup, a three-time state qualifier and state medalist Kabela has always been a hard worker.
He’s a cross country grinder that rarely minds getting in extra work.
This summer Kabela upped the workload and the intensity and is already seeing the reward for his hard work.
“I think he had a really smart summer with the milage slowly building up but putting some pretty heavy milage in during the summer,” Solon coach Emy Williams said. “He’s on a mission.”
Kabela posted his second third-place finish in as many races on Thursday following a third-place finish at the season-opening Anamosa Invitational on Saturday with a third-place performance at the Bob Brown Cross Country Classic at Kickers Soccer Complex in Iowa City.
The third-place finish from Kabela helped Class 3A seventh-ranked Solon to a runner-up team finish
Class 3A No. 10 Washington won the team title with 65 points followed by Solon with 81 and 3A ninth-ranked Clear Creek Amana with 95.
1A No. 14 Regina was ninth with 212 points.
“I was a lot more dedicated this summer and I think that has put me in a good position to start the season,” Kabela said. “I still feel like I have a long way to go this season and I am nowhere near my peak but over the summer I was more determined and on myself to get out there and run.”
Kabela got a boost of momentum at the end of track season, earning a medal in the 3,200 while breaking the Solon school record previously held by his father Mike.
That track success served as a springboard into a focused summer for Kabela who juggled his summer cross country training with being an all-conference pitcher on the Solon baseball team.
“Last year he was coming off an injured track season and then just kind of stunted his running during the summer but I think ending track the way he did on such a high note at state and being successful there has really propelled him,” Williams said. “You can see when he’s racing he’s on a mission.”
Kabela was ranked No. 12 in the Class 3A individual rankings released on Monday and finished behind a pair of top-10 ranked runners on Thursday.
Sixth-ranked Washington senior Micah Rees won the individual title in 16:10.98 while tenth-ranked Western Dubuque sophomore Quentin Nauman was runner-up in 16:42.31.
Kabela finished third in a time of 16:51.37.
“The first mile was very fast, we went out in mid 4:50s and that’s the first time I’ve done that in a cross country meet,” Kabela said. “It was a little bit of getting the heart rate up early. Micah had a great race and it was fun racing with Nauman, he got me at the end but we’ll see what happens later in the season.”
Kabela likes where he is at to start the season but has his sights set on securing another state medal in October.
“The goal is in October and that’s a long ways away,” Kabela said. “I have plenty of time to get where I want to be and right now the training is going great. The workouts with my teammates and practice I am flying and I know that’s what is going to make me better in October.”
Kabela was one of three Spartans to finish in the top 20 on Thursday as senior Lawsin Sinnwell was 13th in 18:02.61 and Michael Yeomans was 20th in 18:22.54.
“I would say that I am super excited with where he is at, I think he wants to be better but that’s Brick he always wants to be better,” Williams said. “He’s done a great job and I think that’s pulled some of our other guys up.”
Clear Creek Amana got a fifth-place finish from junior Brock Hilsman while placing third as a team.
Hilsman was fifth in 17:22.12 to lead three Clippers that placed in the top 21.
Jamie Hayes was 19th in 18:17.74 and Thomas Stiltner was 21st in 18:25.81.
“Brock is Brock and we love where he is at but our pack is going to be the key,” Clear Creek Amana coach Ben Robison said. “I think we have a few things to figure out but I am very pleased with where we are at right now.”
Samuel Welter led Regina with a 18th place finish in a time of 18:17.41.
Bob Brown Cross Country Classic
At Kickers Soccer Complex
Team scores – 1. Washington 65; 2. Solon 81; 3. Clear Creek Amana 95; 4. Marion 136; 5. Waukon 142; 6. Monticello 150; 7. Tipton 183; 8. Western Dubuque 198; 9. Regina 212; 10. Anamosa 248; 11. Springville 296; 12. Calamus-Wheatland 306; 13. Cascade 412; 14. North Cedar 432; 15. Prince of Peace 433; 16. West Liberty 472
Individual leaders – 1. Micah Rees (WAS) 16:10.98; 2. Quentin Nauman (WD) 16:42.31; 3. Brick Kabela (SOL) 16:51.37; 4. Cooper Cook (MAR) 17:02.81; 5. Brock Hilsman 17:22.12; 6. Clay Bohlman (TIP) 17:34.46; 7. Jordan Fischer (MAR) 17:46.32; 8. Tyler Alderton (WAS) 17:48.1; 9. Isaac Reisinger (WAU) 17:55.98; 10. Andrew Rees (WAS) 17:57.73; 11. Lane Schrock (WAS) 18:01.25; 12. Wyatt Gulla (WAU) 18:02.3; 13. Lawsin Sinnwell (SOL) 18:02.61; 14. Bennett Kautz (MAR) 18:11.45; 15. Aedan Althoff (MON) 18:13.64
Solon (81) – 3. Brick Kabela 16:51.37; 13. Lawsin Sinnwell 18:02.61; 20. Michael Yeomans 18:22.54; 22. Grant Bumsted 18:26.56; 23. Spencer Michels 18:28.15; 27. Colin Bumsted 18:40.17; 31. Evan Burg 18:49.49
Clear Creek Amana (95) – 5. Brock Hilsman 17:22.12; 19. Jamie Hayes 18:17.74; 21. Thomas Stiltner 18:25.81; 24. Logan Kafer 18:28.99; 26. Isaac Sorenen 18:34.2; 33. Nicholas Schieltz 18:56.08; 38. Noah Yost 19:06.72
Regina (212) – 18. Samuel Welter 18:17.41; 41. Ambrose Nuxoll 19:32.18; 47. Matt Takacs 19:52.29; 51. Colin Olney 19:58.41; 55. Howard O’Rourke 20:00.83; 60. Evan White 20:11.29; 75. Quinn Warren 20:46.24
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