Comet boys one place shy of claiming Sam Iverson XC Invitational title

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

GRUNDY CENTER — Had they tied, they would have won.

The Charles City Comets boys cross country team finished one point (or place) shy of Grundy Center (48 to 49) in the quest to claim the team title at Thursday’s Sam Iverson Invitational hosted by Grundy Center at the Town and Country Golf Course adjacent to the high school.

“If we would have matched them, we would have won the sixth-runner tiebreaker,” Comet head coach Ryan Rahmiller said in reference to Comet junior Carter Haberkorn placing 30th ahead of the Spartans’ sixth runner, who placed 35th.

The Comets were paced by their resident two-time individual state qualifiers, juniors Nick Williams (3rd, 17:19.28) and Xander Graeser (4th, 17:33.43). Though both runners’ times have been a little slower than in seasons and/or meet past, the Comets have been getting a lift from their third, fourth, fifth and (though they could have used him today) sixth runners.

Of those latter Charles City runners, Rahmiller particularly cites senior Isaac Thompson.

“Isaac has been having a phenomenal season,” Rahmiller said of Thompson, who placed eighth (17:47.57). “He’s like an alligator out there in the way he eats up and overtakes places on the course. He managed to pass several along the homestretch. I wish he could have passed just one more.”

Rounding out the top five scorers for Charles City were senior Lukas Vance (13th, 18:45.82) and sophomore Jackson Kowalski (19:11.81).

The Spartans claimed the first two places with their resident returning state-qualifiers, senior Kaden Lynch (1st, 16:31.74) and sophomore Emerson Vokes (2nd, 16:37.18).

Wapsie Valley senior Aidan Shannon, who was a shuttle hurdle relay state-qualifier for Charles City as a freshman, placed third (17:04.89).

In the subsequent Varsity Girls 5K, Charles City didn’t field a full team with a varsity lineup of only four runners — senior Lauren Staudt (35th, 23:31.27), senior Maggie Boss (39th, 23:43.96), freshman Megan Babcock (24:30.72) and senior Mackenzie Zweibohmer (57th, 25:27.38).

Sumner-Fredericksburg senior Hillary Trainor won the varsity girls race with a first-place time of 18:29.87 — more than a minute ahead of the next runner across the finish line.

Charles City won the Junior Varsity Boys race with a team score of 33 pacing a field of seven. Senior Jordan Young (1st, 19:32.75) and junior Noah Morris (2nd, 20:25.34) led the way for the JV Comets.

Sam Iverson Invitational

Sept. 22

AT GRUNDY CENTER TOWN AND COUNTRY GOLF COURSE

Varsity Boys 5K

TEAM RESULTS — 1. Grundy Center 48, 2. Charles City 49, 3. Jesup 87, 4. East Marshall LeGrand 102, 5. West Marshall State Center 156, 6. Hudson 161, 7. Sumner-Fredericksburg 175, 8. Union La Porte City 210, 9. South Hardin 260, 10. Wapsie Valley Fairbank 273, 11. Valley Lutheran 280, 12. Waterloo Christian 286, 13. New Hampton 289, 14. Gladbrook Reinbeck 346.

Top 10 Placers

1. Kaden Lynch (GC) 16:31.74, 2. Emerson Vokes (GC) 16:37.18, 3. Aidan Shannon (WVF) 17:04.89, 4. Nick Williams (CC) 17:19.28, 5. Xander Graeser (CC) 17:33.43, 6. Nathan Pint (J) 17:36.80, 7. Kaleb Grant (EM) 17:46.48, 8. Isaac Thompson (CC) 17:47.57, 9. Tyler Venenga (GC) 18:03.32, 10. Karsten Nuehring (J) 18:09.49.

CHARLES CITY — 4. Williams, 5. Graeser, 8. Thompson, 13. Lukas Vance 18:45.82, 19. Jackson Kowalski 19:11.81.

Varsity Girls 5K

TEAM RESULTS — 1. Hudson 43, 2. Sumner-Fredericksburg 72, 3. Union La Porte City 83, 4. Jesup 106, 5. Grundy Center 110, 6. New Hampton 138, 7. Aplington-Parkersburg 197, 8. Wapsie Valley Fairbank 208, 9. North Tama Traer 227, 10. West Marshall State Center 231.

Top 10 Placers

1. Hillary Trainor (SF) 18:29.87, 2. Clare Wright (J) 19:37.61, 3. Mackenzie Wilson (J) 19:51.30, 4. Amilia Condon (ULC) 20:11.95, 5. Mollie Hansen (H) 20:38.54, 6. Sophie Glaser (NH) 20:50.00, 7. Grace Storjohann (GC) 21:25.56, 8. Desi Lang (H) 21:34.07, 9. Ella Steele (H) 21:45.78, 10. Reese Hansen (H) 22:01.23.

CHARLES CITY (DNP) — 35. Lauren Staudt 23:31.27, 39. Maggie Boss 23:43.96, 47. Megan Babcock 24:30.72, 57. Mackenzie Zweibohmer 25:27.38.