Published: October 31, 2008 03:54 pm            

CC teams headed to state

Not only did the Pella High Lady Dutch qualify for the Class 3A State Cross Country Meet, the team did so in style!

Pella won the Class 3A Regional Cross Country Meet by scoring 61 points. The Regional was held Oct. 23 in Pella at the Central College Course.

The top three teams at the Regional advance to State. Coach Doug Cutler's Pella squad was third at State in 2007 and the squad has hopes of doing just as good if not better this time around.

Madison Davis, the season leader on the squad, led the way for the Dutch with a second place finish in 15:40 over the 2.5 mile (4K) course.

The winning time was posted by Oskaloosa's talented junior, Sara Dickinson with a time of 14:49.

Rounding out the scoring for Pella were Amanda Dunkin in fourth place, Mariah Vande Lune 10th, Molly Neil 22nd and Hannah Schwab in 23rd.

Lauren Barrick and Christina Hibbard also ran for Pella at the Regional, but the two didn't figure into the team total for the day. Barrick finished 27th and Hibbard was 33rd.

All seven Pella runners are underclassmen. Davis, Dunkin, Schwab and Barrick are all juniors, while Vande Lune, Neil and Hibbard are sophomores.

Comments

Molly Neil replied, "Our team has had a rough start this year with numerous injuries. The team has done an amazing job of staying strong."

Mariah Vande Lune stated, "It feels good going back to run at State. I believe the one word that best describes this team is perseverance."

"Our goal at state is for a top three finish," Vande Lune said.

Odds and Ends

Pella looks to get Addy Van Vliet, a freshman, back in the lineup for State. Van Vliet is one of the runners that has been hampered with not being healthy.

Davis, Dunkin, Vande Lune, Schwab and Barrick all ran at State for the Dutch in 2007 and are expected to compete again Saturday.

The start time for the 3A girls' race at State is noon.



Class 3A Regionals

at Pella - Oct. 23

Girls Team Scoring - 1. Pella 61, 2. Benton 70, 3. Knoxville 121, 4. Grinnell 126, 5. Oskaloosa 144, 6. Nevada 158, 7. Webster City 177, 8. Centerville 190, 9. Carlisle 199, 10. Clarke 215, 11. South Tama 307, 12. Chariton 322.

Pella Girls - 2. Madison Davis 15:40, 4. Amanda Dunkin 16:00, 10. Mariah Vande Lune 16:33, 22. Molly Neil 17:17, 23. Hannah Schwab 17:25, 27. Lauren Barrick 17:27, 33. Christina Hibbard 17:45.









Pella Christian had to wait a few extra days to compete in the Class 2A Regional Cross Country Meet in Iowa City.

The wait was well worth it as Coach Jocelyn Meinders' Eagles will be making a trip to state for the first time in over 20 years.

The Eagles took third at the Regional, and only the top three teams make it to state as a team.

Iowa City Regina won the 2A Regional crown with 45 points followed by Wilton with 53 and Pella Christian with 94 points.

Louisa-Muscatine was fourth with 106 points, but they were left home along with the rest of the teams that followed L-M in the point standings. The list includes Mid-Prairie, Danville, Albia, Bondurant-Farrar, Mediapolis, Colfax-Mingo and Columbus-Junction.

Freshman Sarah Brandsen continued to lead the way for PC. Brandsen ran 15:36 over the 4K (2.5-mile) course to finish in sixth place overall.

The rest of the PC varsity scoring had Michaela Martin 15th, Leah Dykstra 17th, Emily Van Hal 30th and Heather Brand 38th.

Also running for the Eagles but not counting in the team total for the day were Kim Van Zee 50th and Abigail Fincel in 54th.

The State Meet will be held Saturday in Fort Dodge. The 2A girls' race will start at 1 p.m.

Comments

"The girls have worked hard all year to achieve their goal of state. It has been at least 20 years since a Pella Christian girls' team has qualified for state," replied Coach Meinders.

She added, "Sarah Brandsen led the way by placing in the top 10 as a freshmen. It's been great to see her develop throughout the year, the other girls have done a great job of helping her along and teaching her how things work. The team has worked together all season for this moment!"

When reality hit that PC had qualified for State as a team, there were screams that could be heard far away.

Class 2A Regional

at Iowa City - Oct. 27

Girls Team Scoring - 1. Iowa City Regina 45, 2. Wilton 53, 3. Pella Christian 94, 4. Louisa-Muscatine 106, 5. Mid-Prairie 123, 6. Danville 145, 7. Albia 192, 8. Bondurant-Farrar 207, 9. Mediapolis 253, 10. Colfax-Mingo 290, 11. Columbus Junction 315.

PC Girls - 6. Sarah Brandsen 15:36, 15. Michaela Martin 16:37, 17. Leah Dykstra 16:43, 30. Emily Van Hal 17:26, 38. Heather Brand 18:01, 50. Kim Van Zee 18:44, 54. Abigail Fincel 18:50.

        

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