FORT DODGE — It is never easy to compete in the state’s top event in any sport for the first time and not have any jitters.

The Oskaloosa trio of freshman Bailey Blythe and sophomore twins Skylar and Spencer DeJong had those jitters early on at the state cross country meet Saturday at the Lakeside Municipal Golf Course.

While they didn’t get a high finish, they will take home plenty of good memories.

Blythe finished 43rd in Class 3A in a time of 15:53 while Skylar DeJong had the top finish among the three as he ran 16:44.24 to come in 31st and his brother placed 63rd in the time of 17:16.18.

Blythe said she was boxed in early on in the race and feels like she can learn from that experience.

“It was good,” she said. “I was pretty nervous and I thought I could have gotten out a little faster. Toward the end of the race, I was able to catch up with some people.”

Skylar DeJong said running at the state meet is much different that at a regular meet.

“It’s a great experience, but much different,” he said. “You’re running with all the same guys then you meet all the new guys and you have to run with them.

“It’s really nice and he’s (Spencer) a great running buddy. He pushes me all the time.”

Spencer DeJong was happy with his effort in a very tough race.

“It is one of my best (races), but it is one of the hardest races I have ever raced in my life. I felt like I did my best,” he said. “I have never seen some of the competition before and I think some people were more prepared than me. A couple of the seniors had the upper hand on me.

“It was amazing, new competition, new people to take to. Everybody was trying their best and I felt I did my best as well. I’ll probably remember this (running with brother) until I find a new memory with him.”

Oskaloosa coach Keith Comfort was happy how his kids ran in the state meet for the first time.

“I thought they all did a good job for the first time running at the state meet,” he said. “It’s a little different the first time you get up here, but I thought all three kids ran really good races and the times were decent. I really can’t be disappoint about that. They did a great job.”

The Pella boys team continued its strong run of high finishes as the Dutch recorded their third runner-up finish in the last five years with 74 points. Decorah, which had 62 points, won the boys and girls titles.

Evan Jones was the top finisher for the Dutch, who won the state title a year ago, as he placed sixth in 16:04.11.

The Pella girls had a seventh-place finish with 194 points. Getting the top finish for the Lady Dutch was Gabi Meirick, who was 14th overall in 15:20.

North Mahaska juniors Tressa Watts and Megan Goemaat ran close together in the Class 1A race as Watts finished 40th in 16:21 and Goemaat came in 49th in the time of 16:33.

Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont senior Christopher Welch had the highest finish among all the Herald-area runners as he ran 16:57 to come in 30th in Class 2A.



State High School Cross Country Meet

At Lakeside Municipal Golf Course

Fort Dodge

Girls

Class 3A

Team standings — 1. Decorah 63, 2. MOC-Floyd Valley 85, 3. Davenport Assumption 93, 4. Solon 151, 5. Harlan 153, 6. Dubuque Wahlert 168, 7. Pella 194, 8. Dallas Center-Grimes 210, 9. Grinnell 212, 10. Bishop Heelan Catholic 223, 11. Fort Madison 235, 12. Williamsburg 277, 13. Shenandoah-Essex 328, 14. Cresco 363, 15. Spencer 376.

Pella — 7 (14th overall). Gabi Meirick 15:20, 22 (31st overall). Victoria Kleven 15:39, 52 (69th overall). Hannah Pickett 16:15, 55 (73rd overall). Katie Canfield 16:19, 58  (77th overall). Sydney Swanson 16:22, 87 (107th overall). Lydia VanEe 16:44, 88 (108th overall). Abby Fyfe 16:46.

Oskaloosa — 43. Bailey Blythe 15:53.

Class 1A

North Mahaska — 40. Tressa Watts 16:21, 49. Megan Goemaat 16:33.



Boys

Class 3A

Team standings — 1. Decorah 62, 2. Pella 74, 3. Charles City 160, 4. Boone 165, 5. Shenandoah-Essex 194, 6. Knoxville 195, 7. Bishop Heelan Catholic 205, 8. Fort Madison 206, 9. Grinnell 223, 10. Mount Vernon-Lisbon 224, 11. Cedar Rapids Xavier 250, 12. Ballard 263, 13. Vinton-Shellsburg 288, 14. Spencer 296, 15. Garner-Hayfield.Ventura 306.

Pella — 6 (6th overall). Evan Jones 16:04.11, 14 (15th overall). Ben Warner 16:24.32, 17 (19th overall). Matthew Klein 16:32.91, 28 (20th overall). Michael Schemm 16:33.46, 19 (21st overall). Keegan Fitzsimmons 16:33.52, 44 (55th overall). Wade Pingel 17:11.31, 50 (61st overall). Ryan Sievers 17:14.74.

Oskaloosa — 31. Skylar DeJong 16:44.24, 63. Spencer DeJong 17:16.18.

Class 2A

Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont — 30. Christopher Welch 16:57.