Washburn Shatters School Record as City High Wins Home Bud Williams Invite
Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports
IOWA CITY – Ford Washburn has been eyeing the City High individual school record for a couple of years.
After clocking a personal best time of 15:27.89 at the Cedar Rapids Invitational last September Washburn really began to hone in on the all-time City High mark.
Thursday at City High’s own Bud Williams Invitational Washburn didn’t just set the school record – he smashed it.
Washburn blazed to the individual title in a time of 14:50.58 at Ashton Cross Country Course in Iowa City shattering the previous City High school record set by Brook Price at the 2012 state meet.
“Since about last year I was really thinking about it. I ran 15:27 last year and I knew the record was 15:12 and I thought I could get it last year but I didn’t quite get there,” Washburn said. “It’s pretty awesome to do it on our home course. It’s really exciting.”
The winning time for Washburn on Thursday was more than 27 seconds faster than runner-up Jacob Mumey of Pleasant Valley and more than 35 seconds faster than his previous best time.
“I was just kind of running it today,” Washburn said. “Jacob (Mumey) was with me for over a mile and that was helpful for sure. I was just trying to run as fast as I could.”
Washburn was one of four City High runners in the top 10 on Thursday as Class 4A fifth-ranked City High rolled to the team title with 31 points.
Class 4A No. 13 Pleasant Valley was runner-up with 48 points followed by No. 16 Cedar Rapids Prairie with 60 points.
Clear Creek Amana was fifth with 150 points and Liberty High was eighth with 255.
This day, though, was all about Washburn.
Already a two-time state medalist that is currently ranked second in Class 4A and now with the school record in hand Washburn has his sights set on much more next month.
“It’s exciting for sure but I definitely want to be my fastest at state and after state for national meet,” Washburn said. “I want to run faster but it’s really exciting to do this here.”
The state title effort for Washburn comes after a third-place finish at the prestigious Roy Griak Invitational last Friday in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Washburn finished third in the boys gold race at the Griak Invitational half a second off the pace of top-ranked West Des Moines Dowling senior Jackson Heidesch and three seconds behind champion Noah Breker of Robbinsdale Armstrong.
“I did what I wanted to up there, I got third, I wanted to win obviously but three seconds back I can’t ask for much better than that,” Washburn said. “I knew there were going to be fast guys there but it was really good. It definitely pushed me to run faster.”
Ammon Smith, Noah Carey and Truman Thompson all joined Washburn in the top 10 on Thursday.
Smith was fourth in 15:59.53 while Carey was sixth in 16:07.95 and Thompson was ninth in 16:21.88.
Braeden Marker finished 11th in 16:24.91 and Ayman Noreldaim was 15th in 16:37.62 for the Little Hawks.
“We’ve had sickness going through our team the last few weeks and it’s been kind of a setback but this was a good day to bounce back,” Washburn said. “The weather was good, it’s our home meet and everyone is starting to feel better so this was a good way to bounce back for sure.”
Brock Hilsman placed 20th in a time of 16:48.66 to lead Clear Creek Amana while Peyton Stadler was 25th for the Clippers in 17:01.41.
Bud Williams Invitational
At Ashton Cross Country Course
Team scores – 1. City High 31; 2. Pleasant Valley 48; 3. Cedar Rapids Prairie 60; 4. Ankeny Centennial 107; 5. Clear Creek Amana 150; 6. Dubuque Senior 161; 7. Cedar Rapids Jefferson 246; 8. Liberty High 255; 9. Ottumwa 284; 10. Wilton 302; 11. Durant 321
Individual leaders – 1. Ford Washburn (ICH) 14:50.58; 2. Jacob Mumey (PV) 15:18.19; 3. AJ Schermerhorn (AC) 15:49.85; 4. Ammon Smith (ICH) 15:59.53; 5. Andrew Miller (PV) 16:07.45; 6. Noah Carey (ICH) 16:07.95; 7. Zach Cooper (CRP) 16:12.62; 8. Nick Lee (CRP) 16:16.21; 9. Truman Thompson (ICH) 16:21.88; 10. Jaxon Sickels (CRP) 16:22.65; 11. Braeden Marker (ICH) 16:23.91; 12. Carl Rekow (PV) 16:32.01; 13. Max Sorgenfrey (PV) 16:35.48; 14. Owyn Noble (IHC) 16:36.6; 15. Ayman Noreldaim (ICH) 16:37.62
City High (31) – 1. Ford Washburn 14:50.58; 4. Ammon Smith 15:59.53; 6. Noah Carey 16:07.95; 9. Truman Thompson 16:21.88; 11. Braeden Marker 16:23.91; 14. Owyn Noble 16:36.6; 15. Ayman Noreldaim 16:37.62
Clear Creek Amana (150) – 20. Brock Hilsman 16:48.66; 25. Peyton Stadler 17:01.41; 41. Thomas Stiltner 17:38.23; 47. Cash Jensen 17:45.95; 49. Cameron Kimm 17:50.12; 53. Noah Yost 18:04.35; 54. Will Swift 18:05.18
Liberty High (255) – 72. Luke Gage 18:54.98; 75. Julius Vidal 19:06.1; 81. Gavin Nelson 19:25.27; 83. Lucia Allgood 19:32.06; 84. Sahir Sharif 19:39.93; 85. Timothy Welch 19:42
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