It was a bitter cold Saturday when runners from all across the state converged on Kennedy Park in Fort Dodge for the 2023 State Cross Country Meet.
Following a trip in 2022, the Clear Lake Lions looked to compete on a course they were familiar with.
The temperatures, in the high teens with windchill, proved to be a struggle for all the runners on the course, but Clear Lake saw multiple season-bests and personal records out of the competition.
At the one-mile mark, junior Addison Doughan led the Lion group in 12th place, followed closely by senior teammate Anna Feuerbach who was 36th, deep in the tight pack of runners, while Rebekah Steinbron in 67th, Saylor Schmitt in 113th, Reese Brownlee 119th, Lauren Englin in 127th and Alexis Hauge in 134th were sprinkled throughout.
Doughan had a 5:57 first mile, while Feuerbach was just slower with a 6:06.7.
Steinbron ran a 6:15.7, while Brownlee was a 6:35.3, Schmitt at 6:34.2, Englin at 6:41.2 and Hauge at 6:52.5.
By the second mile, the pack had spread out and Pella, the defending champs, were well in front.
Mile two saw Feuerbach advance through the field, running a 6:19.7 second mile and move up into 17th.
By the end of the course, Feuerbach had advanced to 15th and finished in a time of 19:22.5. She went home with a medal in her last high school cross country competition and a personal record time.
Feuerbach wasn’t a runner her freshman year, picking it up her sophomore year after coach Tyler Havens reached out.
Three years later and Feuerbach was standing on “The Deck” receiving a medal at the State Meet.
“I found a whole family in the sport and a love for the tough obstacles the sport puts in front of me,” said Feuerbach. “It feels surreal right now. This is something I’ve had as a goal for a long time now and I’m excited to go out on The Deck today and do something I’ve been working towards for a long time.”
The weather was difficult to adjust to after having mostly warmer days, but it didn’t stop Feuerbach from getting her mind set and finishing with a personal best time.
“It’s a big adjustment. I’ve prepared my body for warmer races and hydrating a lot, and you still have to hydrate but you also have to get your body warm and keep it warm,” said Feuerbach. “Everyone is running in the same conditions today, it’s up to my capacity for perseverance, resilience, drive and grit and that is what will divide me from the competition.”
Feuerbach had words of wisdom for younger kids that are coming into high school cross country or that might be on the fence about it.
“Always be present, take in your surroundings,” said the state medalist. “It’s not always going to be there and you’re not always going to have people to run with when you get older.”
Doughan came in after Feuerbach in 29th overall, running a 6:24.6 second mile and finishing with a time of 19:48.0.
The junior Lion wasn’t happy with her performance but knew it gave her something to strive for in next year’s season. She did look back with fondness of the current season and the memories with her teammates and friends.
“I loved the season and being with my team. They’ve always been my biggest supporters and we always push each other really hard and make each other better each and every day,” said Doughan. “There’s never a day that we don’t push each other.”
The temperatures were tough to deal with but Doughan was up for the challenge.
“It was a quick change but we prepared ourselves for it. We know it isn’t just us running in it,” said Doughan. “We just get out and do it.”
Doughan already knows where she is setting her goals for her senior season of cross country next year and plans to make noise.
“Having goals makes you want to achieve them and hitting adversity makes you want to work harder and not give up,” said Doughan.
Steinbron ran a 6:39.5 second mile and finished in a time of 20.14.8 to take 54th and finish with a personal record time.
Brownlee ran a 7:05.3 second mile and finished 105th with a time of 21:14.6 which was good for her personal record time.
Englin ran a 7:18.3 second mile and finished 121st with a time of 21:52.8 which happened to be her season best.
Alexis Hauge finished 132nd after running a 7:39.7 second mile and finishing the course in 22:37.6.
As a team, the Lions finished ninth overall, while Pella, Mount Vernon-Lisbon and Gilbert took the top three spots in Class 3A.
Coach Tyler Havens was pleased with his teams performance and is happy for senior Feuerbach to leave the program with a medal after recruiting her three years ago.
“This week there is nothing we could physically do to get ready for that [the cold temperatures]. You just have to be mentally ready for it and know that we are going to go out and have the same goals,” said Havens. “I met her [Anna Feuerbach] her freshman year of basketball and she was out on the track. I told her she had to try it and she stepped into it and gave it all she had and this was a cumulation of all of that. She is extremely motived and she should be really proud of it [her performance].”
Placing in the top 10 was a moment of pride for Havens.
“Any time you place in the top 10 in Class 3A it’s an accomplishment,” said Havens. “I’m really proud of all of our girls.”
Havens is excited for the future of the program.
“We have a great group coming back and out of this group we replace two seniors,” said coach Havens. “I think we have girls coming back that can do that and I think we have a promising eighth grade group coming up. I think we have some more to look forward to.”
Girls Team
Standings
1 Pella 80
2 MVL 129
3 Gilbert 142
4 Sioux Center 155
5 Glenwood 172
6 Ballard 176
7 Marion 208
8 Solon 209
9 Clear Lake 209
10 Bishop Heelan 225
11 Decorah 235
12 ADM 250
13 Lewis Central 253
14 Harlan 276
15 Clear Creek 332
