Our top 10 countdown of the best sports stories in Southeast Iowa continues today with number two on our list. This countdown includes area schools of Columbus, Highland, Lone Tree, Winfield-Mt. Union, WACO, Keota, and Sigourney. The second best story takes us to the cross country course and a long time coming for Columbus Community. 

It is only fitting for any program that is celebrating 50 years of existence to have a storybook ending and that was the case for the Wildcat boys’ cross country team in the fall of 2020. Columbus returned all but one runner from an improved 2019 squad and it didn’t take long for the 2020 team to find success with the first win coming on opening night at the Langwood Invitational. A few wins later set up for a historic night on October 22nd. The Wildcats traveled to Ottumwa for a class 1A state qualifier where they cracked the top two to advance to Fort Dodge for the first time since 2005. They captured second place honors with 77 points to beat out #8 Valley Lutheran. Pack running was a staple for the Wildcats with four runners in the top 20 led by Isaac Acosta’s eighth place run of 18:17. Columbus would go on and place 14th at the state meet with Acosta finishing 24th in 17:51. 

Head Coach Steve Riley told KCII Sports what the strategy was to combat a very windy day in Fort Dodge. “Our plan was to have other runners break the wind for us in the first half and then try to pass them in the second half. I thought overall we did that pretty well, especially Isaac. It was a really strong effort by everyone and when they do that there is nothing to criticize about the performance.”

All but one runner returns for this fall in what is expected to be another deep team. Check back in tomorrow for the top story on our countdown when we take a look at a football team competing at the UNI-Dome.