COLUMBUS  

The Southeast Iowa Super Conference cross country meet made its annual appearance and this time around the Cedar Crest Golf Course in Columbus served as the host site for 16 teams to race for conference accolades on Oct. 15. 

All-conference honors belonged to the runners who placed within the top 15 and Hillcrest had not one, but two Ravens fulfill this requirement. 

For the second consecutive year, Marie Yoder earned all-conference honors by leading the Hillcrest girls team with a runner-up finish. 

The sophomore (ranked No. 20 in 1A) placed second with a time of 20:01. Taking first place was Pekin’s Chloe Glosser (No. 3 in 1A), crossing the finish line with a time of 19:14.  

Coming in with a personal best time of 20:39 was Hillcrest’s Siena Stanerson. The junior, in her first year running for the Ravens, has been steadily improving all season long and her new PR time placed her fourth to go along with all-conference honors. 

Led by Yoder and Stanerson, the Hillcrest girls team placed second in the team standings with an overall score of 98. This is their best finish since 2006. Running away with the team title was Pekin with a first place score of 79. 

Just placing outside of the top 15 was Rya Scott. The Hillcrest junior earned a new PR with a time of 22:50 to place 16th. 

Next to cross the finish line for Hillcrest was Delaney Shaw and Brynna O”Rourke. Shaw, a senior, placed 46th in 25:55 and O’Rourke, a sophomore, finished with a season best time of 27:23 to place 53rd. 

In the boys varsity race, Hillcrest was led by Jesse Blossom. The senior conquered the Columbus course with a PR time of 18:57 to place 25th. Placing first overall with a time of 16:49 was Danville’s Jackson Shacklett (No. 5 in 1A).

Another senior who produced a strong finish for the Ravens was Micah Gerber, placing 36th in 19:32 and arriving not too long after him was teammate Braden Hartsock, placing 38th with a new PR time of 19:37. 

The trend of Ravens reaching new PR’s did not stop there as Isaac Beachy (placing 53rd in 20:21), Jeremiah Danker (placing 73rd in 21:55), Mateo Rodriguez-Yoder (placing 77th in 22:39), and Kyle Neuschwander (placing 83rd in 24:07)  finished with career best times.

As a team the Ravens placed eighth with a score of 219 and the team title was won by Danville who ended with a first place score of 71. 

Up next, the Ravens will compete at a state qualifier meet at Pleasantville on Oct. 24. 

Lone Tree results 

As a team, the Lady Lions had an array of strong performances at the SEISC meet and their efforts earned them a seventh place finish in the team standings with an overall score of 142. 

“I was really impressed with how all the kids performed,” Lone Tree cross country coach Ashley Zaruba said about Lone Tree’s performance at Columbus. 

Coming in with the top finish for the Lady Lions was Addyson Eiben. Eiben completed the course in 23:26 to place 21st. Making tremendous strides this season, Eiben’s race at Columbus was a clear example of how much progress she had made during her freshman year. 

“Addy E. has been a steady, up-and-coming competitor since the beginning of the season,” coach Zaruba said. “Her hard work truly shone through during her race in Columbus.”

Next to finish for Lone Tree was Vivian Zaruba, placing 37th in 25:08, and she didn’t have to wait long to be joined by her teammates.

Coming in with a 39th place finish in 25:20 was Jazmine Nino. Then came Ava Christofferson (placing 41st in 25:35), Carlee Sexton (placing 44th in 25:43), and Abby Zaruba (placing 54th in 27:17.  

“I noticed how well our girls worked as a cohesive unit. Vivian, Jazmine, Ava, Carlee, and Abby have been collaborating to form a tight pack,” coach Zaruba said. “I could see that teamwork started to manifest in this conference race. Their ability to support each other and push through together was a joy to witness.”

Showing the strong mental fortitude needed to complete a cross country race, the final Lady Lion to cross the finish line was freshman Evelyn Mueller, placing 64th in 32:08. 

“I was also thrilled to see our younger runners like Evelyn making strides in her race strategy,” coach Zaruba said. “Her continued improvement and determination to achieve new personal records is a testament to her dedication, and it’s exciting to think about her future potential.”

In the boys varsity race Lone Tree was once again represented by the duo of Brock Nebergall and Trenton McKean. Nebergall ran a strong race that resulted in a 37th place finish in 19:33 and McKean battled against the fierce conference competition to end with a time of 23:01 to place 79th. 

“On the boys’ side, the competition was tough, but Brock and Trenton demonstrated exceptional resilience,” coach Zaruba said. “They executed their technique well, particularly in navigating the downhills, and their perseverance throughout the race was commendable.”

Next up for Lone Tree is a state qualifying meet at Regina, Iowa City on Oct. 24. 

“I believe that the hard work and training our team has put in this season will pay off as we approach the district meet,” coach Zaruba said. “I’m excited to see how our athletes continue to grow and perform at the district meet in Iowa City next Thursday.”

Highland results 

The Huskies in red also put their talent to the test against their fellow conference members at Columbus and in the girls varsity race it was Olivia Edwards who served as Highland’s lone representative. Touring the course in 31:15, Edwards earned a 63rd place finish. 

When it came to the boys varsity race it was the junior trio of Chase Hickenbottom, Jack Krotz, and Brayden Zywiec who competed for Highland. The top finish belonged to Krotz, crossing the finish line in 22:07 to place 74th. 

Taking the next best Highland finish was Hickenbottom, racing to the finish in 23:44 to place 82nd, and the final finish for Highland was run in by Zywiec, who placed 88th in 16:01. 

Up next, the Huskies will compete in a state qualifier meet at Pleasantville on Oct. 24.  

Girls results 

1. Chloe Glosser, Pekin, 19:14

2. Marie Yoder, Hillcrest, 20:01

4. Siena Stanerson, Hillcrest, 20:39

16. Rya Scott, Hillcrest, 22:50

21. Addyson Eiben, Lone Tree, 23:26

37. Vivian Zaruba, Lone Tree, 25:08

39. Jazmine Nino, Lone Tree, 25:20

41. Ava Christofferson, Lone Tree, 25:35

44. Carlee Sexton, Lone Tree, 25:43

46. Delaney Shaw, Hillcrest, 25:55

53. Brynna O’Rourke, Hillcrest, 27:13

54. Abby Zaruba, Lone Tree, 27:17

63. Olivia Edwards, Highland, 31:15

64. Evelyn Mueller, Lone Tree, 32:08

Boys results 

1. Jackson Shacklett, Danville, 16:49

25. Jesse Blossom, Hillcrest, 18:57

36. Micah Gerber, Hillcrest, 19:32

37. Brock Nebergall, Lone Tree, 19:33

38. Braden Hartsock, Hillcrest, 19:37

53. Isaac Beachy, Hillcrest, 20:21

73. Jeremiah Danker, Hillcrest, 21:55

74. Jack Krotz, Highland, 22:07

77. Mateo Rodriguez-Yoder, Hillcrest, 22:39

79. Trenton McKean, Lone Tree, 23:01

82. Chase Hickenbottom, Highland, 23:44

83. Kyle Neuschwander, Hillcrest, 24:07

88. Brayden Zywiec, Highland, 26:16