MOUNT AYR — Restarted just two seasons ago, the Woodward-Granger cross country program has shown flashes of future potential, and while no Hawk advanced to the state meet this season, the promise of better days ahead was on display.
Thursday’s Class 1A State Qualifying meet advanced the top three teams and top 15 individuals to the state meet in Fort Dodge. Top-ranked Nodaway Valley won the boys meet with 29 points, with Woodward Academy placing second at 67 and Earlham third at 122. W-G was eighth in the 17-team field with 224 points.
Evan Wilson of Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton won the race in 16 minutes, 37.6 seconds, with Nodaway Valley teammates Brycen Wallace (16:37.71) and Skyler Rawlings (17:01) crossing second and third, respectively.
Senior Chandler Cavanaugh led W-G by finishing 29th in 19:21, with freshman Trevor Faltonson 35th in 19:32. Also scoring were three sophomores, as Caleb Jones (19:55.86), Alex Bice (19:58) and Kaya Bowlsby (20:33.07) placed 48-51-61. Senior Hunter Pierce (72nd, 21:15) and sophomore Keith Braunschweig (73rd, 21:16) completed the varsity seven in the 141-runner race.
Panorama was dominant in winning the girls team title with 32 points, as Baxter was second at 100 and AHSTW third at 119. W-G had four athletes competing and thus could not generate a team score.
Janette Schraft of East Mills (19:32) was the girls winner, with Bedford’s Emma Lucas second (19:33) while Panorama’s Ella Waddle (20:09) placed third.
Freshman Posey Robinson was 31st, in 24:02, to pace the Hawks. Sophomore Chloe David was 74th, in 26:07, and senior Kaitlyn Peters 82nd in 26:41 for W-G. Also running was sophomore Natalie Helbling, who finished in 26:59.
