Donnellson

Hillcrest, along with 14 other area teams, assembled at Central Lee High School to compete in the Southeast Iowa Super Conference Cross-Country Championship Meet on Oct 5. 

In a meet where the top 15 runners earned all-conference honors, the Ravens were led by freshman Marie Yoder, who placed second in the girls varsity race with a time of 20:48.   

“Marie ran and competed really well,” Hillcrest coach Martin Gingerich said. “She didn’t get into second place till the last mile. She ran a smart race, just another good performance by Marie.”

The only one to outrace Yoder was Pekin’s Chloe Glosser. Glosser, in a field consisting of 69 runners, placed first in 19:54. This is the second year in a row Glosser has taken the top spot at this conference meet.

The next runner to cross the finish line for Hillcrest was sophomore Rya Scott. In her fourth race this season, Scott ran a well-paced race to claim 19th place in 23:52. 

“Rya was 19th, just four slots away from all-conference,” coach Gingerich said. “I thought that was an excellent performance by Rya.”

Setting a new personal best time at this conference meet was junior Delaney Shaw. Shaw had her best race of the season, finishing the course with a time of 24:55 to place 33rd. 

“Delaney ran a season best I know for sure. I don’t know if it’s personal best, but Delaney ran her best race of the year by far,” coach Gingreich said.

Brynna O’Rourke was the last Raven to complete the girls varsity race. O’Rourke placed 55th in 27:44 and with the Hillcrest only having four runners in this race they did not qualify for a team score. 

On the boys side Hillcrest had seven runners compete in this conference meet. Leading the way for Hillcrest in the boys varsity race was junior Micah Gerber.

Gerber, in a field of 116, finished in 23rd place with a final time of 19:12.8, which was close to his season best time. Fellow junior Jesse Blossom gave Hillcrest its next top performance, placing 29th in 19:31.

“Micah and Jessie both ran well tonight,” coach Gingerich said. “Micah ran a 19:12. That’s a good time for him this year and Jessie at 19:31, was also really good.”

Taking first place for the second consecutive year was Mediapolis senior Solomon Zaugg, finishing ahead of everyone else with a time of 16:38. 

Hillcrest freshman Isaac Beachy set a new PR time of 21:52. His time was fast enough to award him 68th place. Also setting a new PR was Braden Hartsock, placing 92nd in 23:27. 

Junior Jeremiah Danker and sophomore Micah Kacmarynski continued the pattern of Ravens setting new PRs at this meet. Danker placed 95th in 23:34 while Kacmarynski finished the race in 25:51 to place 25:51. 

The final Raven to cross the finish line was Kyle Neuschwander, he placed 116th in 29:13. Having enough runners to qualify for a team score, the Hillcrest boys team finished in 10th.  Winning the team title by scoring 50 points was Mediapolis.

Girls Results 

1. Chloe Glosser, Pekin, 19:54

2. Marie Yoder, Hillcrest, 20:48

19. Rya Scott, Hillcrest, 23:52

33. Brynna O’Rourke, Hillcrest, 27:44

Boys Results 

1. Solomon Zaugg, Mediapolis, 16:38

23. Micah Gerber, Hillcrest, 19:12

29. Jesse Blossom, Hillcrest, 19:31

68. Isaac Beachy, Hillcrest, 21:52

92. Braden Hartsock, Hillcrest, 23:27

95. Jeremiah Danker, Hillcrest, 23:34

106. Micah Kacmarynski, Hillcrest, 25:51

116. Kyle Neuschwander, Hillcrest, 29:13