Cross Country Teams Run at U of I Ashton Course
October 04, 2019

Cross Country Teams Run at U of I Ashton Course

The Hillcrest Academy girls cross country team all had season best times Thursday in Iowa City on the University of Iowa home course.  The team’s first five finishers all recorded huge personal best times on the five kilometer course.  Leah Bontrager led the way running 21:18 for fortieth place.  Sarena Gerber placed sixty-seventh in 22:54.  Chloe Staley ran 25:44 to place ninety-eighth.  Julia Boller had a great race finishing in 26:51 for 102nd place.  Taryn Leichty was one place behind in 27:00.  Ainsley Shaw finished in 37:09.  “The cooler temps helped all the runners feel better and their times show that.  Today was a great day for running cross country!”  Ashlyn Keeney of Iowa City Liberty won the race in 18:06.  Dubuque Senior won the team race with 37 points.  Hillcrest Academy placed eleventh in the twelve team field.

Girls
Individual Placings Team Scores
Leah Bontrager 40th 21:18 Dubuque Senior 37
Sarena Gerber 57th 22:54 Iowa City High 68
Chloe Staley 98th 25:44 Liberty 82
Julia Boller 102nd 26:51 Ottumwa 100
Taryn Leichty 103rd 27:00 Pleasant Valley 118
Ainsley Shaw 107th 37:09 Pekin 197
Clear Creek Amana 198
Cedar Rapids Prairie 206
Cedar Rapids Jefferson 289
Clinton 314
Hillcrest Academy 318
Durant 353

The Hillcrest Academy boys cross country team added some new members at the top of its ranks while seeing improved times from several of its existing team members.  Junior Will Kolck and sophomore Jorge Canchola made their cross country debuts Thursday on the University of Iowa’s Ashton cross country course at the Bud Williams Invitational hosted by Iowa City High.  Kolck placed one hundred eleventh in 20:47.  Canchola placed one hundred sixteenth in 21:35.  Owen Swartzendruber made the team’s biggest improvement placing one space behind Canchola in 21:41.  Colby Harris was not far behind in his personal best time of 21:45.  Collin Miller took fifty seconds off his personal best finishing in 22:51.  Jesse Slater placed one hundred twenty-second in 23:27. Pleasant Valley won the boys team race scoring 39 points.  Hillcrest Academy was twelfth in the twelve team field dominated by 4A schools.  Max Murphy of Pleasant Valley was the individual titlist finishing in 15:43.

Boys
Individual Placings Team Scores
Will Kolck 111th 20:47 Pleasant Valley 39
Jorge Canchola 116th 21:35 Clear Creek Amana 53
Owen Swartzendruber 117th 21:41 Liberty 71
Colby Harris 118th 21:45 Iowa City High 99
Collin Miller 121st 22:51 Pekin 168
Jesse Slater 122nd 23:27 Cedar Rapids Prairie 170
Dubuque Senior 191
Cedar Rapids Jefferson 200
Clinton 238
Ottumwa 262
Durant 358
Hillcrest Academy 381

Monday, October 7th, the cross country teams host the Hillcrest Academy Invitational on the school campus and in the Joetown woods.  The meet features eighteen boys and girls area high school teams.  The girls teams include Mid-Prairie, ranked first in 2A and Williamsburg ranked second in 2A as well as Solon and Mount Pleasant who are ranked in 3A.  Regina is currently ranked sixth in 1A.  The boys field includes Clear Creek Amana, ranked first in 3A and Williamsburg, Mid-Prairie and Danville-New London which are all top ten ranked in 2A.  The meet starts at 4:00 p.m. with two junior high races followed by four high school races beginning with the girls junior varsity race at 4:30.  Come support the runners.