Upstart Clear Creek Amana Wins Team Title at Bob Brown Cross Country Classic
Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports
IOWA CITY – Clear Creek Amana appeared at the state cross country meet for the first time in nearly two decades last fall.
It didn’t take long for the Clippers to decide they want to make state tournament trips an annual experience.
“Coming back from state, we all loved going there together it was such a great experience, and we all said on the way back we wanted to make sure we did it again,” Clear Creek Amana junior Sara Kinzenbaw said.
Following the first state meet appearance since 2003 the Clippers didn’t just talk about a return to Fort Dodge they put in the work.
“Coming into the summer we all came every single day and worked as hard as we could,” Kinzenbaw said. “We worked really hard as a team because we want to get back there.”
Just two meets into the season that summer work is already showing up.
Class 3A No. 10 Clear Creek Amana edged fourth-ranked Solon by three points to win the team title at the Bob Brown Cross Country Classic on Thursday at Kickers Soccer Complex in Iowa City.
Clear Creek Amana finished with 73 points while securing its second meet title since 2003.
“I would say all the teams that I have coached this girls team had the best summer of any group that we have had,” Clear Creek Amana coach Ben Robison said. “They were at every summer run just killing it so as far as being fit they are all right there.”
Clear Creek Amana had five runners in the top 20 of team scorers, including a pair of top 11 finishers while finishing three points clear of Solon.
Class 2A fifth-ranked Monticello was third with 88 points followed by 2A third-ranked Tipton with 103 and 3A No. 9 Washington with 111.
“We are finding the groove right now that is for sure and I think on any given day we’ve got four girls that could be our number one which is huge,” Robison said. “They are starting to embrace the pack and at practice they have tightened up quite a bit I anticipate that kind of pack running happening from here on out.”
Junior Kira Barker led the way for Clear Creek Amana placing 11th overall in a time of 21:55.24.
Kinzenbaw was 13th overall in 21:56.37.
“I feel like I have gained a lot of confidence in myself from last year,” Kinzenbaw said. “I did better at the end of the season last year than I ever imagined I could and I want to do that and beyond this year.”
It was improved depth that showed for the Clippers on Thursday.
Freshman Kadence Whitmer was 18th in a time of 22:05.29 as the third, fourth and fifth place finishers for the Clippers were separated by less than 16 seconds.
“We are really, really positive and our attitude is great,” Whitmer said. “Staying together as a pack is always the best and I really think we did well with that today.”
Senior Kiera Rogers was 20th in 22:19.03 and junior Harper Techlenburg was 21st in 22:21.13.
“I feel like we did good,” Whitmer said. “We really put a lot of effort into getting out, getting a good race in and I think we did that.”
Solon had four players in the top 17 led by junior Sydney Dee who was 12th in 21:56.19 and senior Anna Quillin who was 14th in 21:56.98.
Freshman Falyn Svalstad was 16th in 22:02.36 and senior Gracie Federspiel was 17th in 22:02.58.
“Today we were a better pack but we aren’t where we want to be quite yet,” Solon coach Emy Williams said. “Saturday was a great race for us and today we just needed to compete a little better.”
Class 1A No. 12 Regina finished eighth with 175 points and was led by sophomore Harper Erwin who was 24th overall in a time of 22:38.88.
Bob Brown Cross Country Classic
At Kickers Soccer Complex
Team scores – 1. Clear Creek Amana 73; 2. Solon 76; 3. Monticello 88; 4. Tipton 103; 5. Washington 111; 6. Marion 121; 7. Western Dubuque 159; 8. Regina 175; 9. Anamosa 240
Individual leaders – 1. Noelle Steines (Calamus-Wheatland) 20:08.59; 2. Alyssa Klein (WD) 20:50.17; 3. Hallie Kelchen (Cascade) 20:53.75; 4. Ava Remley (Anamosa) 21:10.52; 5. Iris Dahl (WAS) 21:13.15; 6. Leah Koehler (MON) 21:15.75; 7. Laura Owen (TIP) 21:17.87; 8. Addison Dabroski (MAR) 21:28.81; 9. Alivia Edens (TIP) 21:43.67; 10. Audry Ella Meyer (MAR) 21:52.36; 11. Kira Barker (CCA) 21:55.24; 12. Sydney Dee (SOL) 21:56.19; 13. Sara Kinzenbaw (CCA) 21:56.37; 14. Anna Quillin (SOL) 21:56.98; 15. Ava Capron (MON) 22:01.68
Solon (76) – 10. Sydney Dee 21:56.19; 12. Anna Quillin 21:56.98; 14. Falyn Svalstad 22:02.36; 15. Gracie Federspiel 22:02.58; 25. Ava Rowles 22:52.48; 28. Rose McAtee 23:00.13; 37. Ella Sheeley 23:33.41
Clear Creek Amana (73) – 9. Kira Barker 21:55.24; 11. Sara Kinzenbaw 21:56.37; 16. Kadence Whitmer 22:05.29; 18. Kiera Rogers 22:19.03; 19. Harper Tecklenburg 22:21.13; 42. Raegan Wyant 23:44.22; 53. Sienna Stiltner 24:42.7
Regina (175) – 22. Harper Erwin 22:38.88; 30. Caitlyn Bell 23:03.28; 34. Alli Clark 23:18.14; 40. Ruby Eastman 23:41.34; 49. Faith Boileau 24:21.04; 50. Ellie Johnson 24:24.6; 52. Keira Sickels 24:42.48
Did you enjoy this subscription free article? Help keep Your Prep Sports free by donating.
