Published: October 23, 2009 07:06 am      

Two Clinton runners qualify for state meet

Kaster sixth, Shemwell ninth in cross country

Herald Staff Report

BURLINGTON — For the second year in a row, a pair of girls will represent Clinton High School at the Iowa cross country state meet.

Kate Kaster placed sixth and Grace Shemwell took ninth Thursday in the Class 4A Burlington Regional to earn spots on the starting line for the state meet Saturday, Oct. 31, in Fort Dodge. Shemwell will run there for the second year in a row, while Kaster is in her first year of cross country.

“It was great to see Grace Shemwell and Kate Kaster qualify for the state cross country meet next weekend,” Clinton coach Wes Golden said. “Both of these young ladies worked very hard in the offseason and are well deserving.”

Running in a cold, hard rain — the race-time temperature was 48 degrees — Kaster finished the 4,000-meter race in 15 minutes, 41 seconds. Shemwell crossed the finish line in 15.42. Shemwell ran the first mile in 6:00, 4 seconds faster than Kaster, but they were even after two miles.

Anne Martin of Pleasant Valley was the individual winner in 15:19. Iowa City West won the team title with 40 points, while Bettendorf (64) and Pleasant Valley (73) earned the other two berths at state. Clinton finished seventh with 179 points.

The Clinton boys were sixth, led by an 11th-place finish by junior Evan Tuisl. He finished the 5,000-meter course in 17:03, 14 seconds behind Cody Doughan of Pleasant Valley for the 10th and final state-qualifying spot.

“Evan Tuisl gave it his best shot but came up just short (in) an extremely tough field of young men,” Golden said, referring to the field that included the top three-ranked runners in Class 4A. “I expect that this will fuel Evan’s motivation for next year.”

Marshall Moyer, the state runner-up a year ago, was the individual winner in 16:07, and he led Burlington to the team title with 35 points. Defending state champion JT McCarthy of Burlington placed fifth. McCarthy entered the race ranked first in Class 4A by the Iowa Association of Track Coaches, with Moyer at No. 2. Third-ranked Frank Canady of Iowa City West failed to advance to state after finishing 17th.

Defending state team champion Pleasant Valley was the runner-up with 43 points, while Bettendorf claimed the final spot at state, edging Iowa City West 91-93 for third place.

Burlington was one of only four sites statewide that had competition Thursday. Meets at the other 16 sites were postponed until Monday.

“I am very proud of both teams and how they competed this year,” Golden said. “Each and every one of the runners gave their best effort in cold, pouring rain. We had a very strong field this year.”

CLASS 4A BOYS BURLINGTON DISTRICT

Team standings — 1. Burlington 35, 2. Pleasant Valley 43, 3. Bettendorf 91, 4. Iowa City West 93, 5. Muscatine 133, 6. Clinton 144, 7. Davenport Central 186, 8. North Scott 232, 9. Davenport North 247, 10. Davenport West 254.

Individual leaders, state qualifiers — 1. Marshall Moyer (Bur) 16:07; 2. Tyler Meseke (PV) 16:17; 3. Matt Butler (Bet) 16:22; 4. Ryan Flynn (Bet) 16:26; 5. JT McCarthy (Bur) 16:27; 6. Austin O’Brien (PV) 16:41; 7. Ben Witt (Bur) 16:41; 8. Kaleb Sterler (Bur) 16:41; 9. Matt Eckman (ICW) 16;46; 10. Cody Doughan (PV) 16:49.

CLINTON — 11. Evan Tuisl 17:03; 22. Andrew Tuisl 17:45; 32. Emanuel Marcos-Teles 17:59; 38. RG Genco III 18:20; 41. Blake Tinderholt 18:21; 47. Sean Determan 18:40; 40. Franklin Bark 19:19.

CLASS 4A GIRLS BURLINGTON REGIONAL

Team standings — 1. Iowa City West 40; 2. Bettendorf 64; 3. Pleasant Valley 73; 4. Burlington 97; 5. Muscatine 178; 6. Davenport West 179; 7. Clinton 179; 8. North Scott 193; 9. Davenport Central 229. Davenport North fielded an incomplete team.

Individual leaders, state qualifiers — 1. Anne Martin (PV) 15:19; 2. Molly Leveille (ICW) 15:23; 3. Mahnee Watts (Bet) 15:25; 4. Mackenzie Eland (Bur) 15:27; 5. Bridget Novak (ICW) 15:37; 6. Kate Kaster (Cli) 15:41; 7. Kate Benge (PV) 15:41; 8. Taylor Fehlberg (ICW) 15:42; 9. Grace Shemwell (Cli) 15:42; 10. Anna Peer (Bet) 15:55.

CLINTON — 6. Kaster 15:41; 9. Shemwell 15:42; 49. Meggie Buikema 18:11; 57. Kathleen Marston 19:01; 58. Sarah Marston 19:14; 61. Courtney Kohl 20:20.