(Fort Dodge) Atlantic’s Ava Rush finished her cross-country career with a top-ten finish, and Claire Pellett will build off a 15th-place finish at the Iowa High School Girl’s State Cross Country Meet at Fort Dodge on Saturday morning. Junior Belle Berg running in her first-ever state meet, finished 85th.
Rush ran a time of 19:26.78; Claire Pellett toured the course in a time of 19:38.96. Rush finished (48th), and Pellett (85th) last season and earned all-state honors in 2022. (Video Interviews with Rush, Pellett, Berg, and Coach Dan Vargason, will be posted below)
Paityn Noe of Ballard ran away from the field at the gun and won the individual title, becoming the first Iowa High School girl to break 17:00 minutes. The senior ran 16:48.58, the fourth fastest 5K time in the nation. Lindsey Sonderman of Harlan finished 6th overall in a time of 19.10.04. The Cyclones finished 14th in the team race with 272 points. Harlan has appeared in 16 of the past 18 State Cross County Meets.
Defending champion Pella captured the team title again with 91 points. Ballard finished second with 127-points. Glenwood making its’ sixth straight state meet appearance, finished 8th in the team race with 218-points.
