FORT DODGE — What Perry head coach Ryan Marzen said he was confident was “the first of what are going to be four” appearances at the Class 3A State Cross Country Meet for Jayette freshman Jaylene Karolus went off without a hitch Saturday at Kennedy Park.
Karolus was one of 137 runners competing in the girls race. She was one of 32 harriers who qualified as individuals, their respective teams failing to move on. The remaining 105 competitors belonged to one of the 15 teams vying for school honors.
Dubuque Wahlert won the team title with 56 points, with DC-G second at 85, Glenwood third at 171 and Ballard fourth at 173.
Glenwood senior Janette Schraft was the overall winner in 18 minutes, 22.5 seconds. Center Point-Urbana junior Adriana Katcher was second in 18:30.3 while Wahlert sophomore Gabby Moran was third in 18:51.2. Karolus was 70th overall in 21:05.9.
“We were hoping for a 20:30 or better, but it just wasn’t meant to be,” Marzen said. “This was a great learning experience and she (Karolus) can be very proud of what she accomplished this season.”
With little wind, sunny skies and temperatures in the upper-50’s the conditions were nearly as perfect for cross country action as possible.
“Unless you get out with the front pack and can stay there you might finish just about anywhere,” Marzen said. “You look at first place down to 20th and the spread is 1 minute, 30 seconds. The next 1:30 runs you well down the line, so you can see how the important it is to run a smart race.”
The second elapsed 1:30 accounted for runners 21-93. Karolus finished 2:43.3 behind first place, but 4:08.6 ahead of the final finisher.
“Jaylene has worked really hard, and really taken everything the coaching staff has told her to heart,” Marzen said. “I am convinced she will be back next year and the two years after that, and she is going to finish higher each time.”
The coach said he hoped the example of Karolus making the state meet would inspire her teammates.
“It would be great to have a teammate or two — even the whole team — come up here and run,” Marzen said. “There are some hard workers on the team and that is what it is going to take.”
He praised sophomores Kailey Crawford and Cris Gomez and freshman Kennedy Tunink for their dedication, as they voluntarily worked with Karolus the past week to prepare her for Saturday’s action. Those practices included 6 a.m. sessions over the end of the school week despite no classes being held as all faculty were in workshops in Des Moines.
“I know she (Karolus) appreciated having those three come out and run with her,” Marzen said. “If we can keep that kind of attitude going we are going to have more successes down the road.”
