(Atlantic) Earlham placed three runners in the top ten and captured the team title at the Atlantic girl’s Cross Country Invitational on Thursday. The Cardinals scored 59-points. Harlan finished second with 85-points, and Atlantic third, with 91, in a field of 15 teams.
Lindsey Sonderman (pictured) won the individual title in a time of 19:21.82, Mayson Hartley of Clarinda finished second, Mackinzie Harger, Earlham, third, Lola Mendlik, Denison-Schleswig, fourth, and Claire Pellett of Atlantic crossed the finish line in fifth place. Olivia Spurling of Earlham, sixth, Marie Dea, of Kuemper, seventh, Ava Rush, Atlantic, eighth, Amanda Smith, Earlham, ninth, and Lauren Hughes of Glenwood, tenth.
Besides Sonderman’s top finish, Brylee Schechinger finished 14th in the team standings, Jenna Gessert, 16th, Haylee Hughes 21st, and Lily Schechinger 33rd.
For Atlantic, Pellett led the team with her fifth-place finish; Rush, eighth; Belle Berg, 15; Mariah Huffman, 31; Katrina Williams, 32nd.
“Our girls ran great today,” said Atlantic Head Coach Dan Vargason. “Ava Rush bounced back after the Harlan meet she’s getting back mentally, and seeing her improve since then is fantastic, and that’s what leadership is all about. Claire Pellett finished in our number one spot and ran lights out. She’s been running strong and has put in a ton of work; seeing her improve is excellent.
“Belle Berg ran fantastic, and our fourth through seventh place runners came right together with Mariah Huffman, Katrina Williams, Faith Altman, and Hailey Huffman; that group of four ran well and closed the gap towards the front of the pack in the right time. This is a challenging course; our girls were mentally tough and did a great job.
Team Results:
1. Earlham, 59
2. Harlan, 85
3. Atlantic, 91
4. Glenwood, 106
5. Clarinda, 132
6. Winterset,161
7.Denison-Schleswig,169
8. Treynor,196
9. Sergeant Bluff-Luton,234
10. Council Bluffs, Abraham Lincoln,272
11. Kuemper, 288
12. Creston, 309
13. Shenandoah,374
14. Council Bluffs, Thomas Jefferson, 376
15. Red Oak, 433
