FORT DODGE – North Mahaska’s Emmerson Jedlicka powered her way to a 17th place finish at the state cross country Class 1A meet on Saturday morning. The junior covered the distance in 19 minutes 42.5 seconds. She was thrilled with the finish after placing 88th in the 2023 meet.
“I am really stoked,” said Jedlicka via a telephone interview. “This was much better than last year.”
Her coach, Roman Meyers had been working with the team and Jedlicka in the last couple weeks of the season to work on 6-minute miles. At state, Jedlicka had a 6:04 first mile and 6:19 in the second. The final mile at Lakeside Golf Course had hills and she said some fatigue set in and she ran slower in the final mile.
“It helped with the physical part and getting it into my head,” said Jedlicka referring to the 6-minute routine. “That last mile had some hills, but I just kept looking at the next girl and using her as a pacer.”
Jedlicka said with 155 runners the start was crowded and hard to pass.
“At the second mile I was able to find my way around and we began to spread out. Coach was pretty stoked about the finish.”
Lili Denton of St. Albert won the Class 1A meet in 17:59.3. Alta-Aurelia’s Nora Peterson was second in 18:28.5 and Pekin’s star runner Chloe Glosser took third in 18:31.5. South Iowa Cedar League champion Mandeesa Vos of Lynnville-Sully was 27th in 20:07.6. It was Mandeesa who edged Jedlicka at the district meet.
Jedlicka had plenty of support cheering her on along the way. Teammates Ava Huffman, who just missed state qualifying, and Kincaid Mitchell, along with volunteer coach Marcy Wanders were there. Jedlicka’s family were there for support too.
The 17th place finish was the lowest she has finished in a race this season. She was also 17th at Williamsburg, which was a multi-class meet.
“I’m going to take a couple days off and let my legs recover,” said Jedlicka. “I won’t stop running but will let this be my springboard to this spring.”
The junior has shown she can compete with the best the state has to offer. She missed state her freshman year due to injury. After an appearance last year and finishing in the top 20 in 2024, Jedlicka has her sights set on what could be ahead of her. She wore the red and white proudly and with a broad smile she showed others the Warhawk Way.
