Published: November 02, 2009 07:32 am      

Casey claims second state cross country title

Rebels runner repeats in 2A

Herald Staff Report

FORT DODGE — Her feelings were different, the weather was different and the race was different. But, there was one constant for Northeast/East Central’s Morgan Casey: Once again she proved she is the best cross country runner in Class 2A.

Casey repeated as the Class 2A state champion Saturday at Lakeside Municipal Golf Course. She turned in the eighth-fastest time overall — the top six were in 4A — as she toured the 4,000-meter course in 14 minutes, 53 seconds. She finished 24 seconds ahead of runner-up Ashley Frush of LaPorte City Union.

“Last year I was a little more incredulous, like ‘What is going on; I’m going to win state,’ ” she said. “This year it was more sentimental, but just as exciting.

“There was not really any extra pressure from anyone but myself. It was more motivation than pressure. (Being a defending champion) helped me stay motivated. It was as much fun the second time around, and having a teammate out there (Emily Franks) made it more special.”

Casey ran the first mile in 5:56 for a one-second lead, but her second-mile time (6:09) was 14 seconds faster than anybody else ran as she left the rest of the field behind.

“She kind of got pinched in at the beginning and didn’t take the lead until the mile mark,” Northeast coach Pat Healy said.

“It (went as expected) for the most part,” Casey said. “The first mile was pretty slow. I tried to hang back and draft. It came together a lot like I thought it would. I broke away after the first mile. I did (feel in control the rest of the way). I really loosened up and was feeling pretty good. It was a good way to the end season.”

It completed a season in which she was bothered by illness early and then runners had to deal with weather issues most of the second half. Saturday was no different on the latter count.

It was chilly and windy, and the course still was a bit soft in places because of all the rain this fall

“It was kind of a wet surface, kind of muddy by time they ran four races. Plus, it was windy and cold,” Healy said.

But Casey said she was ready for the conditions — which were quite the opposite from last year’s warm, sunny day in which she won by 32 seconds in 14:29.

“You don’t want to go in thinking you’re not going to have a good time, but you know times are going to be slower and there are not ideal conditions,” she said.

Casey was joined in the top five by Franks, a freshman. She took fifth, finishing in 15:19.

“Emily ran really well, too,” said Casey, who placed 14th in Class 1A when she was a freshman before moving up to third in 1A the following year. Northeast moved up to Class 2A last year when runners from East Central joined the program.

“Finishing in the top 10 was real good,” Healy said. “I don’t think we’ve ever had a freshman finish that high at state. She was tight the first mile, but after that, when she got in the hills where she usually runs well, she ran a good race. She had a pretty good girl to copy and train with.”

Casey’s season isn’t quite done yet. She plans to run in the senior all-star meet next weekend in Ames. Then, she might take a little time off and narrow her list of college choices before putting the focus on her senior year in track.