Mount Vernon-Lisbon cross country coach Kory Swart called it “a night to remember.”
MVL won both the boys’ and girls’ races at the Class 3A State Qualifying Meet on Wednesday, Oct. 23 in Waverly.
The Mustang girls qualified for state for the fourth straight year, and the boys made it for the 24th time in the last 26 years.
“They are taking this program to another level,” Swart said.
The girls finished with 47team points, easily outpacing second place Decorah (89) and third-place Clear Lake (98). A big part of that can be attributed to Evelyn Moeller, who was the meet medalist in 18:31.1.
The sophomore continues the journey she started mid-season when she took a minute off her personal best and started contending for medalist honors every race.
“She just took over halfway through,” Swart said. “She is really doing a great job racing smart. Her confidence is super high right now.”
Her time of 18 minutes, 31.1 second was a new personal best. She beat Addison Doughan of Clear Lake by 22 seconds.
“We both know how hard it is to chop seconds off when you get your time down this low,” Swart said.
While her story is amazing, the rest of the Mustangs delivered, as well. The rest of the team all finished in the Top 20. Kiersten Swart was fourth, followed by Edith Dawson (8), Miranda Sellner (16), Rose Pisarik (18). Even the unscored runners were right behind, with Cora Smith (19) and Sam Schoff (20).
“Seven in the Top 20 is incredible,” Swart said. “Our pack has tightened up a little bit.”
The boys had to sweat it out a little bit, finishing with 64 team points to edge second-place Decorah (72) and third-place Clear Creek Amana (76).
“They ran great,” Swart said. “Our spread was about as low as we’ve had it all year.”
That spread is the time between when the first MVL runner hits the finish line to the fifth runner.
In this case it was Grady Olberding finish in second place overall, in 15 minutes, 32.2 seconds, to freshman Danny Dye finishing in 16 minutes, 58.5 seconds.
That is less than 90 seconds.
“Grady kind of messes with the lowest time,” Swart
said. Olberding finished five seconds behind the medalist, Austin Soldwisch of Waverly-Shell Rock.
“He ran a nice race on his home course,” Swart said. “Grady was just cruising along behind him.”
Dawson Scheil finished fifth, and was followed by Seamus O’Connor (14), Chasen Caskey (20) and Dye (23).
Now it all comes down to one final race. The Class 3A State Meet is Friday, Nov. 1, in Fort Dodge. The girls run at 10:30 a.m., followed by the boys at 11:15.
Both have massive hills to climb, metaphorically. Pella is a heavy favorite to win on the girls side, and Gilbert is expected to win the 3A boys race.
“It may take something otherworldly to beat them,” Swart said. “But we’ll run smart and give it our best shot. We want to finish on the podium (top 3) and bring a trophy home.”