2023-24 Cross County Season Takes Off Running at Webster City

By Luccas H.

A spray-painted line runs along Hole 9 of the Links Public Golf Course in Webster City--18 boxes for 18 teams. It’s 83° and the sun is just starting to brush the tops of the trees on the far end of the greens. Dozens of runners stand shoulder to shoulder waiting for the starter to get on with his announcements. Parents and coaches are packed around the starting line in hushed silence. Then comes the inevitable: “On your marks.” The starter in the orange jacket puts in his earplugs and raises the blank-filled gun to the sky. Everyone who wasn’t already in a runner’s stance lowers themselves into one--over 100 bodies holding their breath and waiting for the inevitable crack of the gun.

This is many runner’s first meet--for some, it’s their last first meet--but it’s only one of many in a runner’s career. For Roland-Story’s runners, the work started long before August 28th. Two months before on the morning of June 19th, the boy’s cross-country team met in Roland for the first optional practice of the summer. Running on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in temperatures soaring to and past 80, the team put in nearly 40 hours of work before the season even “officially” started—not to mention those who went above and beyond to run on their own outside of practice. Caleb Danielson, a junior who organizes impromptu workouts on the weekend, says, “Running outside of practice is probably the best way to get better.” The girls started their practices geared toward distance over speed and met several times a week. Running for 30 minutes every couple of days allowed the girls to see progress even before the beginning of the season. With lots of work before and behind them, the teams entered the season on a high note.

But a team is more than just the runners you beat and the runners who beat you. It’s the people you’re willing to collapse into at the end of a grueling five kilometers. The girls’ team, to bolster spirit, gets together the day before a meet to stretch, ice, roll out and have an afternoon of preparation-meets-relaxation. As the season intensifies, they also plan to get together and paint pumpkins closer to Halloween. “I have noticed that athletes who used to not speak to one another are now talking and bonding,” says Girls’ Head Coach Ashlee Hovell. The guys’ team bonds over a longstanding tradition of team meals. On Sunday the 27th, the Lucchesis and the Omundsons provided spaghetti and meatballs in the high school cafeteria.

The races themselves (Girls’ JV, Boys’ JV, Girls’ Varsity, Boys’ Varsity) don’t seem to last that long despite the slowest runners clocking in at times nearing 40 minutes. Afterwards, the race organizer stands beneath the deck of the clubhouse and calls out awards. Roland-Story’s own Corben Lucchesi took home a medal after placing eighth in the small school division with a time of 19:35. Evan Voga, last year’s top runner, was aiming to keep up with Lucchesi and finished six places behind him in 14th with a time of 20:07. Luccas Hart and Lucas Wuebker came in 27th and 29th place respectively.

Overall, the boys’ team came in third in the small school division, placing above Eagle Grove and South Hamilton. When asked about his outlook of the season, Boys’ Coach Brad Dedic said: “I have been very impressed with the great attitudes and efforts this team has put forth so far. With that in mind, I am expecting great progress over the season.”

Claire Truesdell came in sixth place overall for the small school division with a time of 22:12, taking home a medal and poising the team for the runner-up spot. Next, at ninth, was Lauryn Kilstofte with a time of 22:34, followed by Makenna Carlson, Elizabeth Ihle, Brooke Thompson, and Kara Patterson running the gambit from tenth to 13th. Even with many of the top spots, the Roland-Story girls finished second behind St. Edmond-Fort Dodge. Coach Hovell, when asked about the season so far, said: “One word that I have to describe the season so far is ‘amazing.’ [...] All of the girls have bought into the training that I have put before them. They have become super close [...] and I feel like we all have a great connection.” 

Despite the good showing at the Webster City Invitational meet, it is only the first of nine for Roland-Story--ten if they make it to state. Roland-Story will be competing next on September 11th at the Ballard Golf & Country Club.

Location: Webster City, IA 50595, USA

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