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WAVERLY, Iowa — The Decorah cross country teams' season of hard work came to a head at the Iowa State Qualifier, held at the Max Championship Cross Country Course in Waverly, Iowa on October 23, 2024. Competing against a field of strong runners, both the boys' and girls' teams delivered impressive performances, with a number of Decorah runners earning themselves a place at State. In the boys' varsity 5k, the Decorah team finished 2nd overall with a total score of 72 points, just behind Mount Vernon-Lisbon, who scored 64 points. Leading the way for Decorah was Davis Coppola, who crossed the finish line in 10th place with a time of 16:31.8. Other top finishers included: Grant Zilka: 12th place, 16:37.5 Landyn Hook: 15th place, 16:44.0 Mitchell Stemper: 17th place, 16:50. D'mitry Lesser: 18th place, 16:53.7 Garrett See: 21st place, 16:57.7 Thomas Hammel: 26th place, 17:13.7 In the girls' competition, Decorah finished 12th overall with a score of 89 points, showcasing the depth and competitiveness of the team. Leading the charge was Olivia Volkmann, who earned 6th place with a personal record of 19:30.1. Other notable finishes included: Raelyn Newhouse: 14th place, 19:57.0 Brinlee Courtney: 21st place, 20:30.7 Leah Garcia-Prats: 22nd place, 20:31.0 Riley Christopher: 26th place, 20:38.5 Amelia Wadsworth: 32nd place, 20:58.8 Reflecting on her team's performance, coach Christy Nimrod expressed her pride, saying, "We had a great team effort tonight. I am very proud of our runners and their competitiveness!" Coach Nimrod also expressed appreciation for fans and family members who made the trip to cheer on their runners. Head coach Brad Johansen also praised the team's determination, stating,"The team ran very well and is positioned to have exceptional performances at state next Friday." Both Decorah teams will compete at the state meet on November 1 at 10:30 a.m. The event will be held at 1417 Nelson Ave, Fort Dodge, IA. . Official Team Results Boys' Team ScoresMount Vernon-Lisbon: 64Decorah: 72Clear Creek-Amana: 89Charles City: 90Clear Lake: 102 Girls' Team ScoresMount Vernon-Lisbon: 47Decorah: 89Clear Lake: 98Clear Creek-Amana: 103Williamsburg: 110 Both teams have established themselves as serious contenders this season, and as they look ahead to the state meet, they carry with them the confidence gained from this successful qualifying event. Become a part of the exclusive circle! Subscribe to the newsletter for free and gain access to special offers, bonus content and insider perks.

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Decorah Cross Country Teams Shine at Iowa State Qualifier