Southeast Valley Jaguars Junior High Cross Country Wins the Conference Title

Cross Country

10/18/2024

In a day filled with excitement, team spirit, and relentless determination, the Southeast Valley Middle School Cross Country team closed out their season at the highly anticipated conference meet held at Iowa Lakes Community College in Emmetsburg, IA. The meet, which brought together 11 schools from across the conference, was the culmination of athletes’ hard work, dedication, and preparation. Ending the season on a high note, the middle school Jaguar boys claims the Twin Lakes Conference Title!

Several runners from the SV Jags delivered exceptional performances. Helping clutch the conference victory for the boys’ team was August Akins, who finished with an impressive time of 13:13, placing second overall. Griffin Vote’s perseverance on the course was evident, especially in the final stretch, where he made up ground and pushed through to secure his sixth-place finish with a time of 13:42. Vote commented, “The course felt long. It was tough at the end but I felt good enough to sprint to finish strong” Vote’s season-long dedication to training paid off, as he navigated the challenging wind and uphill finish with determination and focus.

On the girls' side, Goldie Davis excelled with a time of 14:49, finishing in fourth place. Jaylie Slinker and Aleeyah Hoefer also had spectacular performances. Hoefer finished 27th with a time of 18:03, and Slinker was right on her heels finishing in 28th place with a time of 18:35. “The start of a race seems hard, but if you keep going, you’ll be so proud of yourself for crossing the finish line and you’ll be happy you kept going,” Hoefer remarked when asked about her thoughts on the race.

The team effort was palpable as runners encouraged one another throughout the meet. At the finish line, runners pushed each other as Boe Davis, Jackson Bintz, and Jaxson Wilson sprinted, neck-in-neck, to the finish. “When you are tired, you just have to find something to dig deep and push yourself to the finish,” Bintz stated. Davis crossed the finish line in 15th, Bintz in 16th, and Wilson in 17th. “These three boys’ determination really showed as they came down the final stretch,” remarked Coach Peterson. “All three dug deep and didn’t give up as they entered the final chute, sprinting to the finish.” Another set of runners pushed each other all season. Seventh-graders Grant Peterson and Turner Ahlers had the goal to beat each other across the line each race. Peterson said, “Turner and I ran the same pace. We would tell each other ‘good job’ or ‘keep it up’ as we ran to encourage each other to keep going.” Ahlers added about their running together, “When Grant and I go back and forth, it makes us both run faster. Having a teammate running beside me makes me feel more energized and more confident because it makes me feel like someone has my back.”

Two athletes achieved personal records, Eli Rude and Jake Wicklein, who shaved seconds off their previous bests. “It’s just a big game of chase,” said Rude. “You chase the guy in front of you and hope it’s fast enough to get you a PR.” Coach Lee expressed pride in the team’s progress throughout the season, noting how each runner improved and developed their skills.

"The effort and teamwork shown today were remarkable," Coach Lee said. "Each runner gave it their all, and I couldn’t be more proud of how we’ve come together as a team this season."

As the season comes to a close, the athletes reflect on the journey they’ve had together. From early morning practices to a variety of meets, the team has grown both as runners and as individuals. Eighth-grade runners Goldie Davis, August Akins, Kasen Loeffler, Jackson Bintz, Jaxson Wilson, Ethan Martin, Eli Rude, Jake Wicklein, Max Judson, and Mason Newell competed in their final middle school meet, leaving behind a legacy of leadership and sportsmanship. Wilson leaves the seventh-graders with the advice, “Always stick together, and push each other to do your best.” Seventh-grader Aleeyah Hoefer added, “More people should join cross country because you’ll be really proud of yourself for running like that. I want more girls to come out for cross country and run with us. We can all run as a team. It doesn’t matter if you are slow or fast, as long as you get past the finish line you’ll be proud of what you accomplished.”

Looking ahead, the team is already eager for next season. “I’ve learned so much this year,” said seventh-grader Brock Peterson, “and I’m excited to come back even stronger next year to concentrate on getting more PRs.”

The middle school Jaguar cross country team will now focus on the offseason, with many athletes planning to continue training.

Boys

Place Out of 59

2 mile

Season Personal

Record

August Akins

2