Runners compete in Top of Iowa meet at NIACC

The North Iowa cross country teams took part in their biggest meet to date last Thursday, Oct. 17, as they ran in the Top of Iowa Conference meet held at NIACC in Mason City.

Leading off the afternoon of competition was the junior high race, where three North Iowa boys and three North Iowa girls won medals. They include Gavin Grunhovd, Jackson Potter and Lucas Oldenkamp for the boys, along with Rebecca Hofmann, Miriam Beenken and Aisha Jobe for the girls.

“This was the junior high runners’ last night of competition, and I want to compliment the young ladies and men on their excellent work ethic, attitude, and competitive spirit that they displayed all year long,” said Head Coach Jonathan Potter.

“They all improved as the season progressed dramatically. Hopefully the personal successes that they all experienced will ignite and fuel their love of running and competition.”

In the varsity races, the North Iowa girls’ squad was incomplete, while the boys placed 15th with 444 points.

“The girls came out and performed well. Danessa lead the way with the best performance of her career – dropping over two minutes in time from last year’s conference meet,” said Coach Potter. “Samantha also ran very well for herself – with over a minute thirty drop in time and placing in the top half of the conference, which shows the progress she has made in her career. Elizabeth has had back to back solid meets. While she was conservative the first mile, she pushed hard the back two and competed exceptionally well down the stretch."

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