Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

TIPTON – With the loss of three key seniors and the addition of a talented freshmen class the lineup for Solon looks a slightly different this season.

The expectations and so far, the results have remained very similar for the Spartans.

Class 3A seventh-ranked Solon continued a solid start to the season on Thursday by winning the team title at the Tipton Invitational at Tipton City Park.

Solon had three runs in the top five and five in the top nine at the five-team meet reschedule from Tuesday due to high temperatures early in the week.

Senior Anna Quillin led the Spartans with a third-place finish as Solon finished with 28 team points to edge host Tipton by four points for the team title.

“Having a taste of what it feels like to win championships and place at state and do so well as a team is really motivating especially going into your last year when it’s all or nothing,” Quillin said. “You really want to prove yourself and prove that your team is just as good with you and without the people you lost.”

Solon has a slightly different look this season but once again has high expectations after posting a third consecutive top-five finish at the 3A state meet last season.

On Thursday the Spartans flashed a mix of veteran experience with young talent in its first-place team finish.

Quillin was third overall in 21:37 to lead a trio of Spartan upperclassmen in the top five.

Junior Sydney Dee was fourth in 21:46 while senior Gracie Federspiel finished fifth in 22:08.

“Having a good team bond and just really feeling connected has been something that has been really special for us,” Federspiel said. “It’s not about who is the best or who is the worst but just lifting each other up in practice and focusing more on the process each day. We’ve had some ups and downs even in the early weeks so just knowing that we can support each other and be a good team.”

Freshman Ava Rowles finished eighth in 22:16 while junior Ella Sheeley was 10^th in 22:23 and freshman Falyn Svalstad was 14^th for the Spartans in a time of 22:43.

Seniors like Quillin and Federspiel, both varsity runners as freshmen when Solon started its current string of top-five state finishes, have emerged as key leaders as Solon seeks another strong season.

“Knowing how those freshmen feel and being able to put ourselves in those shoes since we know what its like helps us as leaders and I think helps those girls too,” Quillin said. “I was running with Ava (Rolwes) for part of it and I was telling her we can go with these girls and I know what I would want to hear if I was their age and what would motivate me so I try to replay that to them.”

The Solon boys completed the sweep winning the team title with 31 points, six in front of runner-up Central DeWitt.

Senior Brick Kabela won the team title in a time of 17:02 as Solon put four runners in the top eight.

“I went out hard and I tried to run my best race but I definitely not the time I wanted today,” Kabela said. “A win is a win and it’s hard when no one is pushing you but the time was not exactly what I was looking for today.”

Michael Yeomans was fourth in 17:57, Lawsin Sinnwell finished sixth in a time of 18:03 and Collin Bumsted was eighth in 18:07.

Tipton Invitational

At Tipton City Park

Team scores – 1. Solon 28; 2. Tipton 32; 3. Central DeWitt 84; 4. Louisa-Muscatine 113; 5. Durant 138

Individual leaders – 1. Alivia Edens (TIP) 21:08; 2. Laura Owen (TIP) 21:17; 3. Anna Quillin (SOL) 21:37; 4. Sydney Dee (SOL) 21:46; 5. Gracie Federspiel (SOL) 22:08; 6. Audra Coss (Wilton) 22:10; 7. Adalyn Appleby (CD) 22:11; 8. Ava Rolwes (SOL) 22:16; 9. Addie Nerem (TIP) 22:20; 10. Ella Sheeley (SOL) 22:23; 11. Ella Hein (TIP) 22:25; 12. Karli Hines (TIP) 22:27; 13. Mya Bodecker (TIP) 22:33; 14. Falyn Svalstad (SOL) 22:43; 15. Chloe Klabo (TIP) 23:07

Solon (28) – 3. Anna Quillin 21:37; 4. Sydney Dee 21:46; 5. Gracie Federspiel 22:08; 7. Ava Rolwes 22:16; 9. Ella Sheeley 22:23; 13. Falyn Svalstad 22:43; 15. Rose McAtee 23:12

Boys Results

Team scores – 1. Solon 31; 2. Central DeWitt 37; 3. Tipton 64; 4. Louisa-Muscatine 128; 5. North Cedar 152; 6. Durant 163; 7. West Liberty 186

Individual leaders – 1. Brick Kabela (SOL) 17:02; 2. Clay Bohlmann (TIP) 17:25; 3. Caleb Olson (CD) 17:53; 4. Michael Yeomans (SOL) 17:57; 5. Kyle Olson (CD) 17:57; 6. Lawsin Sinnwell (SOL) 18:03; 7. Ben Zimmer (CD) 18:07; 8. Collin Bumsted (SOL) 18:07; 9. Keegan Peterson (CD) 18:10; 10. Andrew Shumaker (TIP) 18:20; 11. Caleb Bohlmann (TIP) 18:31; 12. Evan Burg (SOL) 18:32; 13. Elston Lindner (CD) 18:36; 14. Parker Petsche (CD) 18:36; 15. Spencer Michels (SOL) 18:36

Solon (28) – 1. Brick Kabela 17:02; 4. Michael Yeomans 17:57; 6. Lawsin Sinnwell 18:03; 8. Collin Bumsted 18:07; 12. Evan Burg 18:32; 15. Spencer Michels 18:36; 19. Wyatt Applegarth 19:41

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