Clear Lake cross country team competes at Dick Bell Invitational

[caption id="attachment_13472" align="alignleft" width="270"] SAM PEDELTY[/caption]

With better weather conditions than in past years, the Clear Lake Lions once again set many personal bests at the Dick Bell Cross Country Invitational hosted by Eagle Grove Tuesday, Oct. 6.  In fact, three-quarters of the Lions set personal bests on a very fast evening.

On the boys side, the Lions finished third in a very tough field.  Three runners finished under 17 minutes, which is a first in Coach Nick DiMarco’s coaching career.  All five of the Lions’ scoring runners received medals for finishing in the top 30.  The Lions had three runners in the top eight.

Clear Lake was led by Eric Faught, who finished fourth in 16:49.  Right behind was Sam Pedelty, who finished fifth in 16:54.  Ryan Faught was next in eighth place in 16:59.  Ike Branstad was 24th with a time of 18:04.  Clear Lake’s last scoring runner, Kaleb Froiland,

[caption id="attachment_13471" align="alignleft" width="270"] ERIC FAUGHT[/caption]

shaved :40 seconds off his all-time best to place 30th in 18:20.  Grant Dieken placed 32nd in 18:24 and Sam Jones rounded out the varsity team, finishing in 36th place in a personal best time of 18:35.

The meet ran all boys together; they did not have a separate JV race.

Most of the following runners ran their best races of the season:  Jake Wessels, 51st, 19:23; Josh Howard, 57th, 19:30; Dylan Schuchard, 66th, 19:46; Lewis Callaway, 72nd, 19:52; Jonah Pedelty, 79th, 20:07; Carter Olk, 107th, 21:07; Zeke Branstad, 111th, 21:18; Gage Bendickson 119th, 21:44; Shane Fuhrman, 132nd, 22:15; Jackson Hamlin, 133rd, 22:16; Bryan Hillyer, 136th, 22:28; Joel Groeneweg, 139th, 22:39; Nick Currier, 142nd, 23:02; Hunter Gerhardt, 145th, 23:13; Noah Copney, 148th, 23:28; Daniel Tank, 152nd, 24:08; Carson Meyer, 161st, 26:08; and David Guetzlaff, 162nd, 27:10.

Girls results

Personal bests weren’t just during the boys race.  The Lady Lions had a great race, as well.

Clear Lake tied for seventh place and was led by Erin O’Tool, who placed 30th in a personal record time of 22:09.  Katelyn Moore was next for the Lions in 42nd place, running 22:46.  Bailey Larsen was close and finished in 47th in a time of 22:54.  Alena Gabrielson was 55th in a time of 23:32. Rissa Barragy rounded out the scoring Lion’s roster, finishing 56th in 23:36.  Tally Tesar was next in 72nd place, running 25:05.  Her sister, Nikki Tesar, was close behind in 77th place with a time of 25:31.  Kara Reineke was 80th with a time of 25:45.  The rest of the Lady Lions included:  Michaela Niles, 95th, 27:10; Breauna Archer, 108th, 28:24;

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Krystle Lu, 110th, 28:41; Madison Brant, 115th, 29:54; Ellie Biebesheimer, 116th, 29:59; Aliyah Bennett, 118th, 30:57; and running her first race, exchange student Erza Mendrofa, from Indonesia, finished 124th in a time of 31:46.

The Lions competed at the North Central Conference Meet Tuesday, Oct. 13, and will run in District competition at Dike Thursday, Oct. 22.

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