Runner-up Finish By Decker Helps Liberty High Claim Team Title at Bob Brown Cross Country Classic
Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports
IOWA CITY – Keegan Decker was so good last fall in his first season of high school cross country he ran himself right into a decision.
A talented soccer player, Decker spent the summer before his freshman season splitting his time between soccer and cross country training.
An impressive cross country debut last fall concluded with Decker running the third fastest time ever by a freshman at the state meet and a 17th place finish in 4A.
Decker was so successful in his first season of cross country he knew the decision he needed to make.
“Last year I was still into soccer and I was still split between the two but after cross country season I realized I should probably stick with cross country,” Decker said. “This year I’ve been all in on running and I’ve tried to do everything I could to get faster.”
The decision continues to be a wise one for Decker who picked up on Thursday right where he left off last fall.
Decker opened his sophomore season with a runner-up finish at the Bob Brown Cross Country Classic at Kickers Soccer Complex in Iowa City to lead Class 4A sixth-ranked Liberty High to the team title at the 13-team meet.
“He’s a high-level soccer player that had played all sorts of soccer but he had a great fall and something clicked with running,” Liberty High coach Josh Hildebrand said. “He’s committed to running, he had a great summer, he’s all in and we are excited.”
Decker finished second behind only 3A top-ranked Western Dubuque junior Quentin Nauman who won the individual title in 16:31.04.
Decker wasn’t far off finishing in 16:39.19.
“It’s great to have competition like Quentin (Nauman) out there, he’s an amazing guy and a really fast runner,” Decker said. “We came into this meet and said we are going to Quentin run his race and whatever happens, happens. If we are close to him that’s great and if he gaps us by 30 seconds then oh well, that’s Quentin.”
Seniors Jacob Madsen and Noah Gregoire finished third and fourth respective for the Lightning who finished with 40 points, 30 in front of 3A No. 11 Clear Creek Amana which was runner-up.
“That top three had a great summer of training,” Hildebrand said. “We’ve leaned on them for leadership in the work outs and they’ve been great.”
Clear Creek Amana had three runners finish in the top 11 led by senior Isaac Sorensen who was fifth in 17:21.79.
“I just wanted to stay with those guys at the front, it’s early in the season so I just wanted to see the type of fitness I’m in,” Sorensen said. “I wanted to see how I matched up against those guys that are ranked in 4A.”
Senior Brock Hilsman was seventh in a time of 17:33.88 while freshman Carson Meskimen finished 11th in 18:06.3 for the Clippers.
“Today we had three freshmen in the scoring seven which is wild,” Clear Creek Amana coach Ben Robison said. “ If we can get our juniors a little closer to our seniors I think we are golden.”
Class 3A No. 18 Solon finished fifth with 139 points while 2A No. 13 Tipton was sixth with 139 and 1A No. 10 Regina was 11th with 321 points.
Spencer Michels finished 18th in a time of 18:16.83 to lead Solon while senior Evan Burg was 20th in 18:30.05 for the Spartans.
Regina was led by senior Lincoln Dardis who finished 45th in a time of 19:32.31.
Bob Brown Cross Country Classic
At Iowa City Kickers Soccer Complex
Team Scores – 1. Liberty High 40; 2. Clear Creek Amana 70; 3. Western Dubuque 131; 4. Anamosa 137; 5. Solon 139; 6. Tipton 139; 7. Washington 164; 8. Monticello 174; 9. Springville 217; 10. Cascade 302; 11. Regina 321; 12. Prince of Peace 328; 13. West Liberty 359
Individual leaders – 1. Quentin Nauman (WD) 16:31.04; 2. Keegan Decker (ICL) 16:39.19; 3. Jacob Madsen (ICL) 16:40.65; 4. Noah Gregoire (ICL) 16:41.24; 5. Isaac Sorensen (CCA) 17:21.79; 6. Aedan Althoff (MON) 17:30.91; 7. Brock Hilsman (CCA) 17:33.88; 8. Andrew Rees (WAS) 17:46.04; 9. Tyler Alderton (WAS) 17:48.27; 10. Brody Staner (WD) 17:58.66; 11. Carson Meskimen (CCA) 18:06.3; 12. Jack Stamp (SPR) 18:07.31; 13. Caleb Bohlmann (TIP) 18:08.23; 14. Clay Bohlmann (TIP) 18:08.42; 15. Lars Hildebrand (ICL) 18:11.41
Liberty High (40) – 2. Keegan Decker 16:39.19; 3. Jacob Madsen 16:40.65; 4. Noah Gregoire 16:41.24; 15. Lars Hildebrand 18:11.41; 16. Tayson Cho 18:12.77; 24. Colin Finch 18:33.49; 27. Jens Strand 18:45.99
Clear Creek Amana (70) – 5. Isaac Sorensen 17:21.79; 7. Brock Hilsman 17:33.88; 11. Carson Meskimen 18:06.3; 21. Kyle Vogel 18:30.35; 26. Micah Johnson 18:44.01; 32. Nic Schieltz 18:55.15; 36. Jackson VanHorn 19:12.73
Solon (139) – 18. Spencer Michels 18:16.83; 20. Evan Burg 18:30.05; 22. Anders Holmes 18:30.1; 38. Rene Meza 19:13.14; 41. Camden Lyons 19:26.82; 54. Preston Raasch 19:54.15; 58. Deacon Waddell 20:09.78
Regina (321) – 45. Lincoln Dardis 19:32.31; 46. Evan White 19:32.87; 69. Brendan Olney 20:55.51; 78. Colin Laubscher 21:48.2; 83. Hugh Loening 22:15.66; 88. Conall Smith 22:55.84; 89. Landon Hoffman 23:04.72
Did you enjoy this subscription free article? Help keep Your Prep Sports free by donating.
