Yoder and Stanerson Punch Ticket to State

1A State Qualifier hosted by Pekin at Ottumwa
October 23, 2025

Marie Yoder and Siena Stanerson both qualified for the Iowa State Cross Country Championships at the 1A State Qualifier meet hosted by Pekin at Wildwood Park in Ottumwa Thursday. Yoder placed fifth in 20:24 among a competitive field. Stanerson had her best effort of the year placing seventh in 20:32. The top ten individual finishers and the top two teams advance to the state meet in Fort Dodge next week. Martensdale-St. Marys won the team title. English Valleys placed second Chloe Glosser of Pekin won the race in 18:47.

Girls Individual results
Marie Yoder 5th 20:24
Siena Stanerson 7th 20:32

Team Scores
Martensdale-St. Marys 43
English Valleys 68
North Mahaska 83
Danville 114
Sigourney 115
Pekin 116
Louisa-Muscatine 136

The Hillcrest Ravens boys cross country team had a strong showing at the Pekin state qualifier meet placing fourth of fifteen full boys teams. Calvin Meller led the way on the hilly course placing sixteenth in 18:40. Mason Wilson competed in his first running race of the year. Wilson placed nineteenth in 18:59. Wilson is better known for his bicycle racing prowess. Jaxson Brokaw was third for the Ravens harriers placing twenty-fourth in 19:29. Braden Hartsock came through with a good race finishing forty- sixth in 20:40. Isaac Beachy rounded out the scoring for the Ravens placing fifty-second in 20:55. Lucas
Beachy had a great race placing eighty-sixth in 24:36. And Mateo Rodriguez-Yoder placed eighty-eighth in 25:18. Louisa Muscatine won the team title. Twentieth ranked Pekin upset fourth ranked WACO to earn the second team berth to the state meet. Cole Millikin of Pekin won the individual title in 16:48.

Boys Individual results
Calvin Meller 16th 18:40
Mason Wilson 19th 18:59
Jaxson Brokaw 24th 19:29
Braden Hartsock 46th 20:40
Isaac Beachy 52nd 20:55
Lucas Beachy 86th 24:36
Mateo Rodriguez-Yoder 88th 25:18

Team Scores
Louisa-Muscatine 55
Pekin 69
WACO 77
Hillcrest 153
English Valleys 154
Danville 166
Sigourney 172
North Mahaska 210
Martensdale-St.Marys 211
New London 266
Montezuma 272
Winfield-Mt. Union 285
Holy Trinity 324
Wapello 332
Highland 365

Link to results

The Iowa State High School Cross Country Championships will be held next Friday October 31 and Saturday November 1 at Lakeside Municipal Golf Course in Fort Dodge. The 1A girl’s race is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Saturday. Best wishes to Marie Yoder and Siena Stanerson as they represents Hillcrest Academy in this race.