Three GC/G-R runners qualify for state

PELLA – Grundy Center/Gladbrook-Reinbeck cross country will have three representatives at the Class 2A state meet this Friday.

Grace Storjohann will run for the GC/G-R girls and Kaden Lynch and Emerson Vokes will compete for the boys in Fort Dodge after all three finished in the top 15 of their respective races at Pella Sports Park last Thursday.

The 2A girls race starts at 2 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 28 at Lakeside Golf Course in Fort Dodge. The gun for the 2A boys race fires at 2:45, with the award ceremony for the races scheduled at 3:30.

Storjohann completed the course in 12th place in 21:02. Danielle Hostetler of Mid-Prairie won the race in 19:08.

GC/G-R finished fifth as a team with 130 points. Mid-Prairie (49), Albia (54) and Pella Christian (84) qualified as teams from the event.

Laney Dole was the second GC/G-R runner across the line in 21:31, just missing the top-15 cutoff in 18th. Karlee Lynch was 22nd in 22:07.

In the boys’ race, GC/G-R fell eight points short of qualifying as a team with 89 points. Danville (61), Pella Christian (73) and Mid-Prairie (81) were the three qualifying teams for the boys.

Emerson Vokes led GC/G-R in third in 16:58. Kaden Lynch placed seventh in 17:25.

Brennen Sager was five seconds shy of a top-15 finish, placing 16th in 17:49. Tyler Venenga was 18th in 18:24.

Lynch will be the only returning face in the state races this year, looking to improve on his 52nd-place finish last season where he ran 17:49. Storjohann and Vokes are both freshmen looking to end strong first-year campaigns.

Team scoring

GC/G-R girls (5th, 130)–*12. Grace Storjohann 21:02; 18. Laney Dole 21:31; 21. Karlee Lynch 22:07; 40. Kate Hayes 23:27; 43. Kali Aldrich 23:42; 54. Emerson Lynch 24:56; 61. Avery Dirks 25:37.

GC/G-R boys (4th, 89)–*3. Emerson Vokes 16:58; *7. Kaden Lynch 17:25; 15. Brennen Sager 17:49; 17. Tyler Venenga 18:24; 47. Chris Utterback 19:57; 49. Brayden Wallis 20:00; 70. Jeryn Spear 21:49.