Some of the best runners in southeast Iowa take the course tonight at Cedarcrest in Columbus Junction for the Southeast Iowa Superconference championship meet. Six schools from the KCII listening area will among those in the field.
The Hillcrest Academy Ravens are in action tonight in CJ. The Ravens last ran on their home course a week ago where the girls were fourth as a team led by Marie Yoder’s eighth place race. The Hillcrest boys were seventh of 10 schools with Jesse Blossom’s 25th place the top performance. At conference last year, the Raven boys were 10th of 11 teams and the girls did not post a team score. Yoder tied a school record for individual finish, placing as Superconference runner-up. Micah Gerber was 23rd to lead the boys. Entering tonight’s race, the Ravens have one ranked runner in their lineup with Yoder No. 17 in the Class 1A individual girl’s poll from the Iowa Association of Track Coaches.
Highland is also at Columbus tonight. The Huskies last competed at the Mike Jay Invitational last week at Heritage Oaks where the Huskies did not post boys or girls team scores. Individual leaders included Olivia Edwards 80th for the girls and Brayden Zywiec 80th for the boys. At the Superconference meet last year, the Highland boys were 11th as a team, the girls did not post a team score. Top returning performer is Brayden Zywiec who was 94th last year for the boys. The girls will all be running conference for the first time.
Lone Tree is at the conference championship meet tonight. The Lions ran last at the Mike Jay Invitational Thursday. The girls were eighth of eight teams led by Addyson Eiben in 21st. The boys did not have a team score and were paced by Brock Nebergall 21st. A year ago at conference, neither team had a score. The girls were led by a 17th place run for Vivian Zaruba and 30th for Nebergall.
Columbus is ready to take the course in front of their home fans tonight. They were last in action Thursday at the Mike Jay Invite where the Wildcat boys were fourth as a team with Ty Muniz finishing as overall runner-up and the girls were seventh, led by Iris Garza in fourth. A year ago the ‘Cats were third in the girls standings overall, led by Garza in seventh. The boys were sixth as a team with Cade Storm 21st. The Columbus boys are ranked No. 12 in this week’s boys team IATC 1A poll with Muniz at No. 8 individually.
Winfield-Mt. Union travels to Columbus tonight. The Wolves last meet was the Mike Jay Invitational with the boys ninth as a team and Kohlby Newsom fifth individually. A year ago at conference, neither team scored. The top returner is Newsom who was 10th in the boys race last season. The Lady Wolves will all be running this meet for the first time.
The WACO Warriors round out the area slate at the Superconference meet tonight. The Warrior girls last ran at Heritage Oaks where it wasn’t a scoring night as a team, but Josie Dykstra finished sixth individually. The WACO boys ran at the Hillcrest meet last week where Jude Dykstra was sixth overall. Last season at conference, neither team posted a score and were led individually by Justine Lynn 60th for the girls and Keiriran Luitjens 40th for the boys. Jude Dykstra enters tonight’s race ranked No. 28th in the latest individual 1A boys IATC poll.
Those teams will be joined by Louisa-Muscatine, Pekin, Wapello, Central Lee, the No. 5 in Class 1A Danville boys and their No. 17 girls, Holy Trinity Catholic, the No. 20 in 2A Mediapolis boys and their girls, New London, Burlington Notre Dame, Van Buren and West Burlington. Last year’s boys team conference champions were Mediapolis and the girls Pekin. The individual champions were Chloe Glosser from Pekin for the girls and Soloman Zaugg of MEPO for the boys. Action starts tonight at 4p.m. at Cedarcrest in Columbus Junction.