Six of Nine Ravens Set Personal Bests

Junior Jesse Blossom led the Ravens boys cross country team Thursday in Burlington to a fourth place finish in the team standings. Blossom toured the flat course in a personal best time of 19:25 for fifteenth place.  The meet was held at the Burlington Recplex.  The plush green grass made the course run slow yet many of the Ravens ran personal bests.  Isaac Beachy was the next Raven finisher placing thirty-fifth in 23:08.  Jeremiah Danker came through with a personal best effort of 23:50 to place thirty-sixth.  Kyle Neuschwander also ran his best time ever by running negative splits.  Each mile Kyle ran was faster than the previous mile.  His total time was 24:19 and his place was thirty-seventh.  Braden Hartsock was the crucial number five runner placing thirty-ninth in 25:19. Senior Solomon Zaugg of Mediapolis, coming off an injury, won the race in 16:46 for the second year running.  Mediapolis handily won the team title.

Boys Individual Placings
Jesse Blossom                                      15^th                         19:25
Isaac Beachy                                          35^th                         23:08
Jeremiah Danker                                 36^th                         23:50
Kyle Neuschwander                            37^th                         24:19
Braden Hartsock                                  39^th                         25:19    

Team Scores
Mediapolis                                                            24
Burlington                                                             49
Van Buren                                                              58
Hillcrest                                                                 107

Freshman Marie Yoder cracked the twenty-one minute barrier for the first time finishing in second place at the Tony Proctor Invitational in Burlington Thursday.  Her new personal best is 20:58.  Hannah Karre of Keokuk won the race in 20:25.  Sophomore Rya Scott made her high school cross country debut for the Ravens placing twelfth in 23:36.  Scott came to Hillcrest last January and was on the track and field team.  She was not able to compete at the varsity level the entire season due to the transfer rule.  Scott continued to run during the summer and joined the cross country team.  Early in the season she sustained an ankle sprain, which has prevented her from competing in the first three meets of the season.  Delaney Shaw was the next  Raven to finish in Burlington.  Shaw placed thirty-third in a season best time of 26:09.  Brynna O’Rourke also came through with a personal best time.  O’Rourke placed thirty-sixth in 27:54.  Keokuk won the team title with 27 points. 

Girls Individual Placings
Marie Yoder                                           2^nd                         20:58
Rya Scott                                               12^th                         23:36
Delaney Shaw                                     33^rd                         26:09
Brynna O’Rourke                               36^th                         27:54

Team Scores
Keokuk                                                                   27
Burlington                                                             40
Mediapolis                                                             66
Wapello                                                                 101

The Raven cross country teams will be hosted next by Iowa City High at the University of Iowa’s Ashton cross country course September 28.