Smith earns runner-up honors for GHV

(Above) GHV’s Reese Smith ran a strong race to place second in the Class 2A State Cross Country Meet.  Smith’s finish helped his team to a fifth place finish. -Photos courtesy of Don Pedelty

For the second year in a row, Garner-Hayfield-Ventura’s Reese Smith took second place at the Class 2A State Cross Country Meet held at Lakeside Municipal Golf Course, in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on Saturday, Oct. 28.  Although first place would have been nice, Smith’s runner-up finish helped lead his team to a fifth place finish in the 15-team field.

George-Little Rock/Central Lyon’s Gable Sieperda won the individual title and his team took top honors with 79 points. GHV finished with 169 points.  Due to the fact Sieperda is a senior, GHV’s Smith can set his sights high next year.

“I am excited that we have such a young team that had a

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chance to compete at the State Meet,” said Coach Jeff Short.  “I look forward to seeing how much we can improve by next year.”

Sieperda took an early lead and Smith was one of the runners in a group that set out to chase him down.  Smith eventually moved ahead of the pack and ran solo in the second place slot for the remainder of the course.

Smith, a junior, finished with a time of 16:03.9.  Ray Cataldo, GHV’s lone senior, finished 30th with a time of 17:30.7.  Blake Lynch, a freshman, and Dalton Kelly, a sophomore, finished in 32nd and 40th place respectively.  Lynch finished with a time of 17:33.1 and Kelly crossed the line in 17:47.9.  Freshman Jake Hejlik rounded out the score, finishing in 65th place with a time of 18:30.5.

Also competing in the State Meet were juniors Lucas Rayhons and Nathan Larson.  Rayhons finished in 90th place with a time of 19:08.3 and Larson ran the course in 20:14.8, good for 101st place.

“We will miss all the seniors on the team, but especially Ray, who helped bring a young boys team along so fast,” said Short.

GHV freshman Abby Christians was the lone Cardinal girl at the Class 2A State Cross Country Meet, but by the way the young runner competed, it probably won’t be her last time at State.

Christians finished strong in her first trip to the State Meet.  She was 26th in a time of 20:33.6.

“We were very excited to have a girl back representing us at the State Meet,” said Short.  “I hope she continues to improve from her impressive 26th place finish.”

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