Lynnville-Sully Boys Secure SICL Cross Country Title; Girls Finish Second

The Lynnville-Sully boys cross country team clinched its second consecutive South Iowa Cedar League (SICL) championship on March 15, 2024, demonstrating exceptional performance by finishing with a score of 33 points. The Hawks placed five runners in the top eleven, solidifying their dominance in the competition held in Searsboro. Coach Darin Arkema praised his team’s ability to control the race from the start, underscoring their depth and talent.

“Our guys needed to get out at the start and be in control of their race, and if they did that they were going to show top to bottom how deep our team is,” Arkema stated. “I’ll take five in the first 11. I’m proud of the way they handled the expectations and performed how they are capable.”

Strong Showings from Individual Runners

The Hawks led the boys’ standings by a significant margin of 59 points over second-place English Valleys, which scored 92 points. Sigourney and BGM battled closely for third place, with Sigourney finishing at 114 points, just ahead of BGM’s 115. Other teams in the ten-team field included Montezuma, North Mahaska, Belle Plaine, Colfax-Mingo, HLV/TC, and Iowa Valley.

Colton Alberts emerged as the runner-up in the boys’ race, clocking a time of 16:47.89. He was closely followed by Blake Wilmesmeier in third place with a time of 17:00.52. The Hawks secured additional top finishes with Ethan Dunsbergen placing eighth, Sam Terlouw ninth, and Madden Gunsaulus eleventh. The team’s sixth through tenth runners combined would have garnered a score that could have placed them third overall, highlighting their overall strength.

North Mahaska’s Troy Klett captured the individual championship with a winning time of 16:46.43, narrowly edging out Alberts. The individual accolades reflect the competitive spirit of the meet and the prowess of the athletes involved.

Girls’ Team Performance and Resilience

While the boys celebrated their title, the Lynnville-Sully girls finished in second place, falling short to English Valleys by just eight points. English Valleys finished with 50 points compared to Lynnville-Sully’s 58 points. North Mahaska followed closely with 67 points, while Sigourney and Colfax-Mingo rounded out the standings.

Ashlynn Hosbond led the Lynnville-Sully girls, achieving a personal best with a time of 19:55.15 and finishing second overall. North Mahaska’s Emmerson Jedlicka took the individual championship in the girls’ race with a time of 19:53.26. Despite the disappointment of not winning, Coach Arkema emphasized the importance of teamwork and camaraderie.

“It’s pretty special at a 1A school to have both boys and girls teams competing at a high level,” Arkema remarked. “What tonight really came down to on the girls’ side was that English Valleys collectively had better races than in previous matchups.”

The performance of both teams reflects the hard work and dedication they have shown throughout the season, with individual runners achieving personal bests and contributing to the overall success of the Hawks.

As the season progresses, the Lynnville-Sully Hawks will look to build on this momentum, fostering both athletic achievement and team spirit as they prepare for future competitions.