For the second year in a row, IMS has the state’s individual champion. At the state cross country meet in Fort Dodge, IMS’ Bill Spencer once again came in first. IMS Head Coach Marty Gingerich says even though the field tried to dictate a faster pace at the start, Spencer kept his cool and ran at his pace. By the halfway point he had moved up to 13th and eventually reached the front in the second mile. Spencer finished the race with a time of 15:54 and becomes the first IMS runner to win the state title twice. As a team IMS finished sixth. NU High was first, Central, Elkader second, and BCLUW third. Wapello finished fifth. For IMS, Seth Miller was 34th, Cody Miller 61 and Malachi Bontrager 64th. Also Winfield-Mount Union’s Andrew Liles finished 25th. Lone Tree’s Tyler Gosnell 43rd.

In Class 2A, Mid-Prairie’s Justin Hochstetler finished 13th. His teammate Peter Schwartz came in 43rd. Regina, Spirit Lake and Solon were the top three teams in 2A.

On the girls side in 1A, Pekin girls brought home the team title. Earlham was second and Tri-Center Neola was third. Lone Tree finished 11th as a team. Pekin had three girls finish in the top five. Lone Tree’s Ella Feldman came in 20th. WACO’s Madison Roth 28th.

In 2A, Union Laporte City first, Unity Christian second, and Regina third. Individually Mid-Prairie’s Sofia Chmaruk finished 40th.

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