Regina Narrowly Misses Out on Return to State Meet With Third-place Finish at Qualifying Meet
Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports
IOWA CITY – Throughout the 5K race at the Class 1A state qualifying meet Chad Swope saw a look on the faces of his Regina runners.
“You could see it in their faces,” Swope said. “You could see the fire in their eyes and they just ran determined and that’s what you want.
After the race some of those same faces showed disappointment after Regina had a string of seven consecutive state meet appearances stopped with a third-place finish at the 1A state qualifier at Kickers Soccer Complex in Iowa City.
There was no disappointment from Swope.
Instead the face of the long-time Regina coach beamed with pride as he talked about the performance of his team.
“I really don’t care if we are first and I don’t care if we are last if you run your best everything will take care of itself and our kids ran their best,” Swope said. “Our kids gave it their very best today. I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
Regina ran valiantly on Thursday.
It wasn’t quite enough to secure a spot at state.
Fourth-ranked English Valleys had five runners in the top 11 and won the team title with 28 points.
No. 15 Danville was runner-up with 75 points securing the final spot at the state meet by six points over No. 20 Regina.
“We were short this year but I love these kids,” Swope said. “They battled, they worked hard every day and battled through a lot of adversity this year and to never give up like that I was so proud of them.”
Junior Harper Erwin led Regina finishing 13th in a time of 22:23.8 while classmate Ruby Eastman was right behind placing 14th in 22:27.8.
“The way Harper stepped up and was a leader for us and Ruby she stepped up and was a leader and was right there with Harper,” Swope said.
Freshman Etta Winders placed 19th in 23:02.1 while Caitlyn Bell was 27th in 23:54.1 and senior Ali Brandt was 28th in 23:55.5.
“Alli Brandt is three minutes faster than last year and she stepped up as a senior and I am so proud of her,” Swope said. “Etta Winders, our freshman, she went out a little fast but she hung on and battled and that takes grit and determination and that’s what you want.”
The Regina boys finished sixth at with 175 points.
Fourth-ranked Danville won the boys team title with 73 points while No. 10 Van Buren was runner-up with 74 points.
Junior Brendan Olney led Regina placing 22nd in 18:53.5 while junior Evan White was 27th in a time of 19:04.9.
Senior Lincoln Dardis placed 30th in 19:14 and was followed by sophomore Hugh Loening who was 42nd in 19:46.9 and freshman Wyatt Kaeding who placed 56th in 20:33.9.
“Brendan improved so much this season, Evan was a good leader for us and Lincoln stepped up for us and after that it was freshman and sophomores and they battled all the way,” Swope said. “When you look at what we have coming back we feel pretty good,” Swope said. “This will make them hungry for next year.”
Girls Results
Class 1A State Qualifying Meet
At Kickers Soccer Complex in Iowa City
Team scores – 1. English Valleys 28; 2. Danville 75; 3. Regina 81; 4. Dyersville Beckman 99; 5. Louisa-Muscatine 109; 6. Bellevue 135; 7. Lone Tree 142
Individual leaders – 1. Anna Luers (EV) 20:39.7; 2. Madelyn Reiter (DB) 20:47.9; 3. Alaina Gourley (DAN) 20:56.4; 4. Addison Achenbach (EV) 21:36.3; 5. Fiona McGill (L-M) 21:37.5; 6. Kayley Snowgren (VB) 21:40.8; 7. Rylee Philips (VB) 21:41.6; 8. Kaylynn Caster (EV) 21:48.4; 9. Kenzington Scheckel (BEL) 21:49.8; 10. Kailor Lown (EV) 21:57.3; 11. Aubrey Achenbach (EV) 22:03.4; 12. Ylvie Lensker (BM) 22:06.8; 13. Harper Erwin (ICR) 22:23.8; 14. Ruby Eastman (ICR) 22:27.8; 15. Delaney Newberry (DAN) 22:33.4
Regina (81) – 13. Harper Erwin 22:23.8; 14. Ruby Eastman 22:27.8; 19. Etta Winders 23:02.1; 27. Caitlyn Bell 23:54.1; 28. Ali Brandt 23:55.5; 31. Ellie Johnson 24:13.3; 45. Chloe Pritchard 25:48.9
Boys Results
Class 1A State Qualifying Meet
At Kickers Soccer Complex in Iowa City
Team scores – 1. Danville 73; 2. Van Buren 74; 3. Louisa-Muscatine 111; 4. Durant 128; 5. Dyersville Beckman 134; 6. Regina 175; 7. English Valleys 175; 8. Prince of Peace 195; 9. Bellevue 236; 10. Easton Valley 238; 11. Calamus-Wheatland 272; 12. Bellevue Marquette 297; 13. Fort Madison Holy Trinity 344; 14. North Cedar 350; 15. Rivermont Collegiate 371
Individual leaders – 1. Gage Heyne (EV) 16:46.4; 2. Jackson Shacklett (DAN) 16:58.6; 3. Lincoln Banbridge (VB) 17:26.6; 4. Race Starr (DUR) 18:03; 5. Noah Horn (DAN) 18:03.4; 6. Hayden Riggan (L-M) 18:03.4; 7. Landry Loeffler (VB) 18:06; 8. Connor Kilburg (BEL) 18:09.5; 9. Ryan Greve (PP) 18:13.3; 10. Isaac Frazier (EV) 18:16.6; 11. Aaron Garcia (DUR) 18:17.6; 12. Oscar Cline (L-M) 18:19; 13. Isaac Shinn (DAN) 18:26.5; 14. Nick Powell (DAN) 18:30.7; 15. Gavin Noll (VB) 18:37.6
Regina (175) – 22. Brendan Olney 18:53.5; 27. Evan White 19:04.9; 30. Lincoln Dardis 19:14; 42. Hugh Loening 19:46.9; 56. Wyatt Kaeding 20:33.9; 65. Huck Zahasky 21:17.5; 67. Colin Laubscher 21:23.3
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