Photo Courtesy of Washington XC Social Media
The Washington Demon boys and girls cross country teams faced a loaded field that featured seven ranked squads and 11 ranked runners Wednesday at the Williamsburg State Qualifier meet. When the dust cleared, the Demons had earned three individual bids to next week’s State Championship meet in Fort Dodge.
The Washington Demon boys finished fifth as a team with their score of 131 points. Team qualifiers included meet winner Central DeWitt with 48 points, runners-up Grinnell with 62 and Davenport Assumption with 89. Washington senior Andrew Rees will return to State after his 11th place finish in 16:46. Cadel Conner of Grinnell was the winner in 16:09. Other Demon finishers included Jack Shepherd 21st, Ethan Hotchkiss 30th, Sawyer Tschantz 31st, Parker Tschantz 38th, Teag Miller 46th, and Xavi Recendez 65th.
The Washington girls were also fifth with their team score of 120 points. Auto-qualifier teams included the champion Raiders on their home course with 66 points, Ballard second with 68 and Center Point-Urbana third with 73. A Demon duo earned bids back to State for the Washington girls with Iris Dahl 11th in 20:15 and Emma Horak 14th in 20:34. Avery Fedler of Mount Pleasant was the individual champ in 18:59. Other Demons included Kora Miller 21st, Angeline Anderson 31st, Ellie Van Der Molen 48th, Allie Wulf 54th, and Zully Aranda Terrones 55th.
The Washington boys and girls teams both earned spots at state in 2024. The first time in program history both teams advanced in the same season. The Demons will say goodbye to seniors Angeline Anderson, Zully Aranda Terrones, Maya Bruty, Isobel Murphy, Allie Wulf, Quintyn Garibay, and Sawyer Tschantz.
Demons Rees, Dahl and Horak will compete at the Class 3A State meet at Lakeside Municipal Golf Course in Fort Dodge on Halloween. You can hear interviews with the Washington qualifiers during next week’s PM Sports Page on KCII.