Yoder & Stanerson Punch Their Ticket to State

Hillcrest Academy Cross Country
1A State Qualifier at Pleasantville
October 24, 2024

Marie Yoder and Siena Stanerson both qualified for the Iowa State Cross Country Championships at the 1A State Qualifier meet in Pleasantville Thursday. The meet was held on the gently rolling Pleasantville Golf course. Yoder placed second in 19:15 with a season-best effort on the 4.88 kilometer course. Stanerson again ran her fastest ever covering the distance in 19:32 to place fifth. Senior Delaney Shaw ran her last cross-country race as a Raven. She placed forty-fifth in 24:59. This was her season-best effort. Shaw has been a great leader and guide for the team in her four years as a team member. Brynna O’Rourke also ran her best race of the season tying her fastest pace set last year. O’Rourke finished in 26:22 to place fiftieth. The Ravens did not have the five finishers needed for a team score. Earlham won the team title with Lynnville-Sully placing second. Both teams advance to the state meet. Chloe Glosser of Pekin won the race in 18:43.

Girls Individual Results
Marie Yoder 2nd 19:15
Siena Stanerson 5th 19:32
Delaney Shaw 45th 24:59
Brynna O’Rourke 50th 26:22

Team Scores
Earlham 28
Lynnville-Sully 46
Pekin 82
Pleasantville 94
WACO 115

Seniors Jesse Blossom and Micah Gerber led the way for the Ravens boys team at the 1A State Qualifier meet in Pleasantville Thursday. This pair has been the team’s number one and two runners for the past three seasons. Blossom was number one for the Ravens in Pleasantville finishing in twentieth place in 18:35. Gerber closed fast to finish three places behind Blossom in 18:39 with his season-best race. Braden Hartsock was the third Raven finishing in 19:16 for thirty-second place. Isaac Beachy placed thirty-sixth in 19:33. This was Beachy’s fastest race to date. Senior Jeremiah Danker and sophomore Mateo Rodriguez-Yoder paced each other throughout the race with Danker taking the lead at the end. Danker placed fifty-eighth in 21:32 while Rodriguez-Yoder placed fifty-ninth in 21:34. This was Rodriguez-Yoder’s fastest race ever. Senior Kyle Neuschwander finished his high school cross country career with his best effort ever even running his second mile faster than his first and his third mile faster than his second. Neuschwander placed sixty-fourth in 22:58. The Ravens placed fifth as a team with Earlham and Lynnville-Sully taking the two team qualifying spots like in the girls race. Jude Dykstra of WACO won the individual title in 16:40.

Boys Individual Results
Jesse Blossom 20th 18:35
Micah Gerber 23rd 18:39
Braden Hartsock 32nd 19:16
Isaac Beachy 36th 19:33
Jeremiah Danker 58th 21:32
Mateo Rodriguez-Yoder 59th 21:34
Kyle Neuschwander 64th 22:58

Team Scores
Earlham 41
Lynnville-Sully 60
Pekin 72
WACO 127
Hillcrest 147
Winfield-Mt. Union 158
North Mahaska 201
Pleasantville 203
Wayne, Corydon 224
Southeast Warren 225

The Iowa State High School Cross Country Championships will be held next Friday, November 1 and
Saturday, November 2 at Lakeside Municipal Golf Course in Fort Dodge. The 1A girl’s race is scheduled
for 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Best wishes to Marie Yoder and Siena Stanerson as they represent Hillcrest
Academy in this race.

Complete State Q Boys Results
Complete State Q Girls Results