by Chanse Hall
sports@clreporter.com
It was a wonderful day for spectators out at Veterans Memorial Golf Course in Clear Lake last Thursday as the Clear Lake Lions hosted schools from all over the area in a cross country meet.
The Clear Lake girls were led by Addison Doughan, finishing the distance in 19:06.5, ahead of North Butler Greene’s Addison Voelker who finished in a time of 19:23.8.
“Our team has so much strength this year it’s crazy. We are able to set these goals that we know are achievable,” said Doughan. “We have so many Lion cheerers at our meets even if it’s not at home because we have so many people that care for us. Knowing that God gives us the strength to work hard and push ourselves is really motivating because there are many people that can’t do what we do and we need to remember that running is a gift.”
Doughan got into cross country in middle school because of her mom, Stacy. Addison wasn’t sure what cross country was but has enjoyed her time as a runner.
“My mom threw me in cross country seventh grade year and I didn’t even know what it was,” said Doughan. “Being in cross country, it’s one of the hardest sports that is overlooked and you can be so much stronger if you’re in it and it’s really motivating when you finish a race and how much you can improve every race.”
Anna Feuerbach finished fourth with a time of 20:21.9.
Rebekah Steinbron finished 10th with a time of 21:03.4 and rounded out the medalists for the Lions.
Saylor Schmitt finished 13th, setting a time of 21:29.1.
Reese Brownlee finished 17th, finishing the 5,000 meters in a time of 22:12.
Lauren Englin finished 21st in a time of 22:30.4, rounding out the Lion girls running.
The Lions boys team saw Caleb Jones finish 15th to lead the Clear lake boys with a time of 18:03.5, followed by Gavin Roske in 17th with a time of 18:06.3.
Aiden Burtness and Owen Smith finished 32nd and 33rd, respectively, in times of 18:57.3 and 19:00.4.
Aiden Hippen finished 36th in a time of 19:07.5, just ahead of teammate Ethan Evelsizer who finished 38th with a time of 19:15.2.
Head coach Tyler Havens was pleased with the result and spoke highly of his runners.
“It was pretty fast. We know it’s a fast course and it’s usually warmer so we don’t usually see those times but today was a great day and we saw some great times,” said Havens. “Those girls work really hard and start the first or second week in June and go all summer to prepare for this. We want to keep building throughout the year and peak at the end.”
One of the State Qualifying meets will be held in Clear Lake at the end of the season and Havens is honored to have Clear Lake chosen as a host site.
“I am excited about that, to be on a course we know and we like and get to have our home crowd here will be a really good opportunity for us,” said Havens. “It’s exciting to get to be one of those five schools to host.”
