In their 50th year as a program, the Columbus Community boys’ cross country team is headed to state for the first time in 15 years after cracking the top two at Thursday’s state qualifier in Ottumwa. 

The Wildcats managed 77 points to beat out #8 ranked Valley Lutheran for second and the final spot at a state bid. Valley Lutheran placed third with 93 points and Pekin won with 56. As they have all year long, up and down the lineup was full of production for the Wildcats led by Isaac Acosta in eighth with a time of 18:17. Other finishes included Mason Hills-Carrier 14th (18:59), Freddy Vergara 16th (19:15), Damian Vergara 17th (19:19), Alex Rivas 27th (19:55), Tim Hills-Carrier 33rd (20:10), and Van Bawi 48th (21:20). 

Head Coach Steve Riley was ecstatic for his runners. “We have a great pack of runners and knew we could achieve this goal. Our program is on the rise and we showed it last night. To do this in our 50th year as a program is really special and we are really excited to make it to state.”

Two other area athletes qualified as individuals with Sigourney’s Mason Moore and Hillcrest Academy’s Leah Bontrager. Both runners advanced to state for the third time in their career. Moore just squeaked into the boys top 10 to qualify by placing 10th in 18:34. The first person left out in 11th crossed the finish line in 18:43. Bontrager had a solid showing in third by clocking in at 21:52 in the girls’ race. 

On the boys’ side, Gabe Hemsworth of Winfield-Mt. Union was just on the outside looking in placing 13th (18:52) and teammate Brody Barton was 19th (19:25). WACO’s Wyatt Dennis was 46th (21:15) and Hillcrest Academy’s Collin Miller was 49th (21:19). Other top girls’ finishes included Winfield-Mt. Union’s Avery Maeder in 21st (25:21), WACO’s Mckenzie Vradenburg 25th (26:16), Columbus Community’s Averi Sipes 30th (26:59), and Hillcrest Academy’s Julia Boller 36th (28:28). 

The Class 1A State Meet will be held next Saturday in Fort Dodge.

Photo Courtesy of Columbus Community Schools