At KCII we’ve been counting down the top 10 biggest stories in area high school sports for the 2024-2025 academic year. At number one is Winfield-Mount Union runner Kohlby Newsom’s dominant final distance-running season.

Having already been a medalist in track and field and a state qualifier in cross country, Newsom decided that he would make his senior year the one where he excelled in both sports.

A return trip to the Class 1A cross country championships for Newsom featured a seventh-place finish at the Southeast Iowa Super Conference Championships and runner-up honors at the state qualifying meet in Pleasantville.

Newsom did not waste his time in Fort Dodge either, finishing ninth at state with a time of just under 16-and-a-half minutes for his first career state medal.

But Newsom was only starting to speed up as track season began in the spring. A superb season that included conference medals in multiple events saw the Wolves’ senior qualify for state in three events, including the 1,500-meter run.

When Newsom got to Des Moines for the Class 1A state track championships, he hauled in one medal by taking fourth place in the 400 meters. But he would save his best for last.

In his final career race, Newsom won the Class 1A state title in the 800 meters with a time of one minute 53.83 seconds, becoming one of only 15 WMU athletes to ever win a state title in track and field.

Congrats to Kohlby Newsom on a great year and being the Number One Area High School Sports Story of 2024-2025. Find the full countdown at KCIIradio.com