Lynnville-Sully Hawks Shine Amid Tough Competition at Pella Invite
URGENT UPDATE: The Lynnville-Sully cross country teams showcased their resilience at the Pella High School Dutch Cross Country Invitational on September 30, 2023, delivering impressive performances against a field of top-ranked competitors. The state-ranked Hawks clinched sixth place in the girls’ division and seventh place in the boys’ race, outperforming key conference rivals.
Both teams tackled a challenging course at Central College, with head coach Darin Arkema praising their determination and improvement. “Our teams faced tough competition, but they rose to the occasion after a solid week of training,” Arkema stated.
In the girls’ 5K race, Emma Parkinson finished strong in 16th place with a time of 21 minutes 6.4 seconds, while Colton Alberts matched that performance in the boys’ race, also placing 16th with a time of 17:03.1. Mandeesa Vos, ranked 21st in Class 1A, crossed the finish line in 20th at 21:19.4.
Notably, the L-S girls’ team saw significant time improvements, with five runners shaving off 13 seconds to 1 minute and 30 seconds from their previous race. Other notable finishers included Breah Lowry (43rd, 22:18.3), Peyton Sharp (54th, 22:52.1), and Isabelle Vos (56th, 23:04.8). Arkema highlighted that “almost everyone improved from the first meet to the second, showcasing their commitment and hard work.”
The boys’ team also had strong showings, led by Sam Terlouw (19:13.8), Madden Gunsaulus (19:14.4), and Ethan Dunsbergen (19:26.5), finishing in 64th, 65th, and 69th places, respectively. Arkema noted, “Though we faced large groups at the starting line, our boys focused on their race and made significant strides in their performance.”
The meet was dominated by Class 3A schools, with Gilbert taking the boys’ title with 31 points, followed closely by Pella at 43 points. The girls’ championship went to Class 3A No. 1 Pella with a commanding 16 points, solidifying their dominance by finishing 1-2-4-5-7 in the race.
As the season progresses, the Lynnville-Sully teams are poised for continued improvement. With their next meet on the horizon, fans are eager to see how these talented athletes will perform against their competitors. Stay tuned for updates as the Hawks aim for new personal bests and team victories.
