Bontrager Punches her Ticket to State

**Coach Marty Gingerich and Leah Bontrager are all smiles after Bontrager places third in the 1A state qualifier meet on Thursday.**

Junior Leah Bontrager punched her ticket to the state cross country meet Thursday in Ottumwa. Bontrager placed third in the 1A state qualifier meet hosted by Pekin at Wildwood Park. Her time was 21:52. The top ten individuals and the top two teams qualify to move on from each 1A qualifier meet to the state meet. It was eighty degrees and humid at race time. The course was soft after the previous night’s rain. It was not going to be an easy race. Bontrager ran smart and moved up through the field gradually. Eventually she was in the fourth position heading to the finish. Analee Bartels of Regina had been leading the race throughout much of the course. She lost the lead with 100 meters to go and eventually fell before she crossed the line. Bartels did get back up to walk across the line in second place before collapsing again. She was disqualified for receiving assistance. Leah was the fourth to cross the line, but moved up to third place after the disqualification. Bontrager was the first to finish from the Southeast Iowa Super Conference. Leah placed ahead of three SEISC runners who had beaten her twice during the year. Julia Boller finished next for the Ravens placing thirty-sixth in 28:28. Senior Kennedy Roth was the Raven’s final finisher placing forty-second in 30:32. Kennedy ran a great race in her final appearance in a Hillcrest cross country jersey. “It was great to have Kennedy back on the team for her senior year. She brought extra doses of wisdom and common sense to the team.” Rylee Dunkin of Twin Cedars won the race in 20:31. Pekin won the team title, while Regina placed second and also moves on to the state meet.

Girls Individual results
Leah Bontrager 3^rd                    21:52
Julia Boller 36^th                  28:28
Kennedy Roth 42^nd 30:32

Team Scores
Pekin 28
Regina 38
Twin Cedars 65
Wapello 102

Bontrager also was the KCII JET Physical Therapy Athlete of the Week. Check out her interview: JET Physical Therapy Athlete of the Week. She will run in the 1A state championship race at 3:30 p.m. Saturday October 31 at Lakeside Municipal Golf Course in Fort Dodge.

Junior Collin Miller and Senior Will Kolck both ran great races to represent the Ravens at the state qualifier meet. Miller placed forty-ninth in 21:19 while Kolck placed fifty-first in 21:28. This was Kolck’s final race as a Raven cross country runner. “Will’s positive attitude every day really helped the entire team this year.” Isaac Natvig of Valley Lutheran won the boys race in 16:55. Pekin won the team title while unranked Columbus Community placed second over eighth ranked Valley Lutheran to move on to the state meet.

Boys Individual results
Collin Miller                            49^th 21:19
Will Kolck 51^st                  21:28

Team Scores
Pekin 56
Columbus Community 77
Valley Lutheran 93
North Mahaska 108
Iowa City Regina 120
Winfield-Mt. Union 146
Mediapolis 154
Wapello 173
Holy Trinity 209
Moravia 278

COMPLETE RESULTS
Boys and Girls