Clear Lake cross country season opens on a high note

The Clear Lake cross country season started off on a high note.  At the first meet of the season Monday, Aug. 24, at Iowa Falls, the boys finished first with 30 points, 15 points ahead of second place Humboldt.  The girls finished third with 82 points, only 10 points from second place.

Coach Nick DiMarco pointed out the cross country teams have their highest numbers in recent memory, with 46 runners on this years’ squad.

In the varsity race the Lions’ scoring five worked together early in the race and separated slightly over the course of the last mile.  The Lions were led by senior Ryan Faught, who is poised to have an outstanding season.  Fought completed the course in 17:53, earning him a third place finish.

Close behind was freshman Eric Faught, finishing in fourth place (18:19), sophomore Sam Pedelty, placing fifth (18:29) and Ike Branstad, seventh (18:48).  Rounding out the top finishers for the Lions was senior Spencer Orr, placing 11th (19:29).

The excellent performances did not stop at the top five.  In fact, the Lions’ second five would have finished in fourth place at the meet.

The  teams’ second five was composed of:  Grant Dieken, 14th place (19:41); Sam Jones, 19th place (19:55); Jake Wessels, 20th  place (20:07); Kaleb Froiland, 23rd place (20:23); and Lewis Callaway, 24th place (20:32).  Other excellent performances included:  Josh Howard, 27th place, Jonah Pedelty 32nd place, Dylan Schuchard 40th place, Carter Olk 43rd place, Jackson Hamlin 51st place, Zeke Branstad 53rd place, Shane Furman 61st place, Hunter Gerhardt 66th place, Gage Bendickson 69th place, Carson Meyer 70th place, Daniel Tank 72nd place, Noah Copney 74th place, Joel Groeneweg 75th place, Nick Currier 78th place, and David Guetzlaff 79th place.