LEON — North Mahaska’s boy’s cross country team set a new standard Thursday dominating the district meet and qualifying for next week’s state meet. It is the first time a team of cross country runners from NM have qualified. To top it off freshman Aly Steil qualified in the girls’ race. North Mahaska scored 76 points by placing all five runners in the top 25 and easily outdistancing second place Madrid, who finished with 103 points. Madrid’s Ethan Loutzenheiser won the meet in 16 minutes 39.75 seconds, but the next Tiger runner finished 21st.
Asher DeBoef powered the champion Warhawks with a 10 place finish in 17:50.78. North Mahaska used the pack mentality to score with Brayden Veiseth in 12th (18:01.09); Nate Sampson in 14th (18:07.26); and Lane Harmon 15th (18:29.15). The final Warhawk to score was Ben Yang in 25th in 19:37.17. Also making the trip were Andy Knockel in 29th (19:56.45) and Clay Thompson 47th in 21:09.11.
“Anytime you run in a pack like that you can have good results,” said first-year cross country coach Seth Streebin. “They ran well and were comfortable with the course.”
Streebin had said prior to the meet he felt the team had a strong chance to qualify for state and even win the district meet. He also thought if she ran a smart race Steil could qualify as well. South Iowa Cedar League runners Greenlee Smock and Steil were bookends of the top 10. Smock won in 19:55.0 while Steil clocked a 22:03. North Mahaska did not run as a team, but sophomore Breckyn Shilling placed 64th in 30:16.0 and senior Vanessa Murphy was 66th in 32.41.
“I hoped I could finish 11th or 10th ,” said Steil. “I felt comfortable and wasn’t really nervous. I wanted to get out fast and I did. I will keep doing what I have been doing and get ready for next week.”
Steil has competed at middle school state cross country meets but not one that will have as many runners as will be at Kennedy Park in Fort Dodge next week.
“It will be different,” said Steil. “I’ve run at a state meet before but not one like this. It’s exciting but I know it will be challenging.”
Senior Lane Harmon returns to state after qualifying as a sophomore. He has been nursing an injury that has limited his practice and participation.
“I knew I was going to have to dig deep to help the team get there,” said Harmon. “I’m still injured but we knew who we had to beat. We ran the course Tuesday so we knew when to kick where we could pass.”
Harmon said having teammates with him will be much better than running alone as he did in 2020. He will help his teammates prepare for the much larger field.
“Just like districts we need to know who beat and who to stay with,” said Harmon. “We have to stay relaxed and not let the nerves get to you.”
Harmon said Steil has put in the work to achieve this season.
“I am so proud of her,” said Harmon. “She ran all summer with us and put in the work. She is something else. We could not have done this without the support of our families. We have to say thank you to them.”
Class 1A will open the meet with the girls running at 10:30 a.m. The boys will follow with awards set to be presented at noon. Due to the number of school parents wishing to attend and other activities school has been cancelled for Friday, Oct. 28. However, the eight grade trip to Indian Hills will still occur.
