By Mark Schafer | The News-Review
OTTUMWA – A little bit of a slow start wasn’t going to hold her back.
Especially since she knew the course as well as she did.
That’s why the slow start by Pekin senior Chloe Glosser didn’t worry her on Thursday afternoon at the class 1A State qualifier meet held in Ottumwa.
“I wasn’t able to get an amazing start to the race,” Glosser said. “That seems to be kind of a theme at this course.”
Glosser took her time finding her footing, especially in the uphill portion that dominates the first half of the Wildwood Park cross country course. Once she was able to get her footing, the senior charged up to the front, where she would stay for the rest of the race.
“I have really been struggling with the uphills the last couple of weeks,” Glosser said. “I knew I just had to power through those and then use the momentum from the hills for the downhills. I was able to take the lead, and I knew that the second place runner was right there and ready to take the lead if I let her.”
Throughout the course Glosser was able to keep her pace, and eventually pull away from the rest of the field. The second lap seemed to be an easier one for the senior as she was able to stride away for a winning time of 18:46.4 to win the meet and stamp her ticket to the State cross country meet. She won the State qualifier meet by just over 12 seconds.
“I felt smooth and like my stride was working really good for me,” Glosser said. “I felt good after I passed the finish line during the first lap. I was able to build my lead and use the momentum I built up for the second lap.”
After finishing third last season at the State meet, Glosser, who is ranked third in class 1A could enter the State meet with a lot of high expectations. However, the senior is just trying to enjoy her final high school cross country runs.
“I don’t have any strong expectations for next week,” Glosser said. “I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself. I am confident with my training and my placing. I am also confident in God’s plan for me.”
Glosser wasn’t the only athlete that had success at the district meet in Ottumwa on Thursday.
English Valleys runner Anna Luers would run to a 10th place finish in the race, finishing with a time of 21:01.7. That qualified her for the State meet as well. However, she would later learn that the rest of her team was going to join her at the State meet.
Overall the English Valleys girls cross country team finished with a team score of 68, which placed them second, just behind Martensdale-St. Mary’s with 43 points.
With the second-place finish the Bears were able to qualify.
“It is very exciting for us. We are looking forward to competing at State once again,” said English Valleys cross country coach Luke Caster. “Hopefully the girls have a little bit more experience under their belts. Last year we were mostly just freshmen and sophomores. I think the experience from last year should make this year better. I just hope we do a good job, and preform well.”
Last season the English Valleys girls team placed fifth at the State meet, just three points away from third.
“All year we’ve just been a team that runs as a cluster together,” caster explained. “We did what we needed to do to qualify.”
Addison Achenbach would finish 16th overall in the race with a time of 22 minutes. Kaylynn Caster was able to finish 19th with a time of 22:37. In 22nd place was Aubrey Achenbach. Kailor Lown finished 23rd with a time of 22:53. Kaylee Frazier was 32nd overall.
“We have worked hard all summer and put in a lot of miles throughout the season,” Coach Caster said. “We are starting to see all the benefits from the miles we put in. Success starts to breed success and we are seeing that.”
Sigourney did not qualify anyone to the State meet. Leading the way was Addison Yates who finished 11th, with a time of21:14. Ellie Yates was 14th overall with a time of 21:36. Brynn Clarahan was 26th. In 40th was Cloee Wilson and Kia Montgomery finished 60th.
The Sigourney girls finished fifth overall.
Pekin’s team was 6th overall. Abby Guise was 21st overall. Maddy Petrehn was 34th. Hailey Pedrick was able to finish in 44th. Callie Deutschle was 46th. In 48th was Bree Earnest, Harper Guise finished 53rd.
The Panther team finished sixth overall in the team standings.
The State meet will take place Nov. 1 in Fort Dodge with the girls race starting at 2 p.m.
