WEBSTER – It was business as usual for a group of Lake Region Conference girls’ runners during the Region 1B cross country meet in Webster on Wednesday afternoon.
Northwestern’s Ella Boekelheide won the girls’ race, while five Ipswich runners finished in a row, claiming the third through seventh positions, on the way to securing the team championship.
Kaden Ober of James Valley Christian won the boys’ race helping to power the Vikings to the team title.
Boekelheide had to contend with Nora Olsen of Deubrook Area, who finished runner-up.
“That was really exciting. She’s a great runner. I’ve seen what she’s done in track, so it’s great to see her now on the cross country course,” Boekelheide said. “This course is already pretty hard, so I had to have that mindset coming in, being mentally strong, just another variable of having someone right on my heels for a good part of the race.”
Boekelheide had plenty of help and encouragement throughout the race from her mom Kris and brother Derek, who serve as cross country coaches for the Wildcats.
“I really like having them being my family and also coaches,” Boekelheide said. “On the cross country course I view them as my coaches, not my mom and brother. I have to respect them as my coaches.”
Boekelheide will now try to defend her state championship at next week’s state meet in Huron.
“I have a lot of experience with it, so I’m just going to use that to my advantage,” Boekelheide said, “and I’m really excited. It’s my last cross country race.”
Like they have all season, the Tigers of Ipswich ran in a pack throughout the race. The leader of that young pack is senior Madisyn Gellhaus.
“It’s honestly great. Before this year I didn’t really have someone to go back and forth with, so this year at practice we’re always back and forth, at practice we’re always supporting each other, we’re always happy for each other,” Gellhaus said. “Everyone, no matter what happens at races and at practice, it’s honestly great. These girls have become little sisters to me. They’re my family. I love them so much.”
The rest of the squad consists of an eight grader and three seventh graders. Gellhaus sets the pace during the early stages and then it’s anybody’s race from the quintet after that.
“I definitely feel like my role for the first two miles is the pace-setter,” Gellhaus said, “and normally around the 800 mark one of them will go and I just really follow them, too. They have big, good kick and foot speed, and I go when I can.”
Aberdeen Christian’s Clara Herreid clocked a personal record at the region, but was unable to punch her ticket to state.
“I think it was the fastest time I’ve ran on this course,” Herreid said, “but just not enough because of the competition.”
While disappointed, the freshman already has her sights set on next season.
“I’m excited for next year,” Herreid said.
Aberdeen Christian did have a pair of boys qualify for state as Joseph Richards and Andrew Schwab will be competing in their first state meet.
“I’m excited,” Richards said, “because I’ve worked two years for this.”
Richards had no idea where his teammate was behind him during the race.
“I was hoping he made it to state,” Richards said, “and I’m happy that he did.”
Schwab was happy that he qualified after missing out last fall.
“It feels really good, since last year I missed by like five places,” Schwab said.
He said having a teammate like Richards helps.
“He’s a really good person to race with and run around with. He’s really fun,” Schwab said. “He’s very good competition.”
Knights coach Adam Franken was proud to have a pair of his runners qualify for the state meet.
“They trained hard all year,” Franken said. “It was fun to see them training together, and then to come out today and just have great races for both of them. It was just fun to see as a coach.”
While the weather was a bit brisk for some with overcast skies and temps barely into the 50s, it fit right into the running style for Ober, who pulled away for his victory.
“I ran a lot of summer miles. I trained hard,” Ober said. “I just felt really good, especially because of the weather. I always run well in this weather.”
Castlewood’s Nolan Edison finished runner-up. Interestingly, he flung his sunglasses off in the middle of the race and finished without them.
“My glasses fogged up,” Edison said. “I couldn’t see for the first half mile.”
The junior decided it was time to part with the glasses, because he could barely see path of the race.
“I looked down at the ground through the bottoms,” Edison said.
When asked if the glasses will be back on for state, Edison responded, “oh yeah, the glasses and my headband, bring out the headband for this.”
Edison said he only wears the headband for special occasions.
“Headband’s reserved for state only,” he said, “state track, state cross country only.”
Faulkton’s Korbin Stark recorded a top-four finish, with two of the top three places going to JVC runners. Stark knew what to expect from the Vikings going in.
“We got to see James Valley Christian a couple of times this year,” Stark said. “I knew they would have some solid guys and they did.”
What Stark was not aware was Castlewood’s runners, specifically Edison.
“Castlewood, the kid from there, we did not see them at all. He ran a great race, too,” Stark said. “I was trying to stick with him and then he started pulling away around the start of the second lap.”
Stark now has big 10-day period ahead. He also plays football for the Trojans, who cap their regular season on Friday, and compete in a playoff game next Thursday, before he gets to run in the state cross country meet.
“It’s going to be tough physically,” Stark said, “but our coaches always preach mental toughness and that’s just something I’ve got to keep in my head.”
To see complete meet results, click on the following link:
