Bulldogs’ Maas runs second-best time at Maynes Grove

HAMPTON – Looking at Bulldog freshman Lydia Maas run, you’d think she is a seasoned veteran who has been part of running clubs for years.

Not so.

The winner of the 2020 Bulldog Invitational, who also happens to have run the second-best varsity girls’ time ever on the course, says she just started running seriously in the seventh grade.

“So, I started in seventh grade, in middle school,” Maas said, “but before that I never really ran a lot. I always kind of liked it when we’d play tag at recess and stuff.

“But, I was never really on any, like, outside teams or running clubs, which I think going into it, kind of thought it was a disadvantage. But, the more that I run, I think it is more of an advantage because people really don’t know your name yet and you can kind of sneak up on people. I also think it’s nice because there is less pressure.”

Maas came across the finish line in 19 minutes, 22.07 seconds, which was 1:19 ahead of second-place finisher, Abby Christians of Garner-Hayfield-Ventura. She casually crossed the finish line and moments later, checked her watch for her time.

“I think sometimes people call it ‘staying dumb,’” Maas said. “You don’t know what’s good and what’s not good time-wise. And, I think I’m more relaxed about it and not so much pressure all of the time.”

The best time run on the Maynes Grove course is by four-time place-winner Bryce Gidel of Humboldt, who ran it in 19:22, only three seconds faster than Maas in this race.

“I’m definitely proud of it,” Maas said. “Coming out tonight, I definitely wanted to do well with it being a home meet, and a lot of family and friends coming and my coach actually sent me a list of the top-10 times here and so it was kind of a good reference point to know how I’ve been doing, and that is good because I don’t always know.”

So, if Maas thinks she is unknown at first, her name may be getting out there.

“I think, I don’t really know,” Maas said. “Sometimes, I judge it when I’m running at meets and parents and coaches from other teams, sometimes they’ll clap and say ‘good job, Hampton’ or ‘good job, whatever.’ Now they are starting to say ‘Maas’ and calling out names. I think a couple more people probably are, but I don’t know how to judge.”

When asked if she thinks she can improve on her time she just ran, Maas considered it.

“It is a tough course, I think tonight the weather was nice; I definitely felt tired after, but I always say I can go harder,” Maas said. “It’s kind of a, ‘oh, I could have done better. I could have pushed harder there.’ But, I’d had to look at it again.”

Right now, she has the best chance to become the first female runner for the Bulldogs since Patty Teggatz graduated in 2017.

“It’s definitely a goal,” Maas said. “We don’t know what district we’re in yet, because they get sent out a couple days before, it could. Right now, the most I can do is keep working hard in practice and eating right and drinking enough water and getting sleep, all of that stuff.”

With only four varsity runners, the Bulldogs didn’t have enough to accumulate a team score. Lauren Meader finished just outside the top-10 in 12th at 22:38.16. Other finishes were Kimberly Guillen (47) and Avery Hanson (55).

The Bulldog boys finished sixth out of 10 teams, scoring 140 points. The top finish for coach Traci Moorehead’s squad was Jace Spurgeon, who placed 15th overall in 18:49.14 (13th in team scoring). The remaining team scoring included Jack Showalter (17), Marshal Rust (33), Andyn Showalter (36) and Eli Fink (41).

The West Fork girls were third out of seven full teams, scoring 65 and paced by a sixth-place overall finish for Kacie Eisentrager.

West Fork won the boys’ team title, scoring 72 points. The girls’ title was earned by Nashua-Plainfield 56. The individual boys’ title was earned by Central Springs’ Bryce McDonough in 17:27.75.

In other races, the Bulldogs’ eighth grade boys’ runner, Miles Rust, claimed a PR with a time of 11:29.57 to win to middle school division.

2020 Bulldog Invitational

Varsity Girls Team Scoring

1. Nashua-Plainfield 56; 2. Sumner-Fredericksburg 64; 3. West Fork 65; 4. Osage 99; 5. Garner-Hayfield-Ventura 103; 6. Clarksville 129; 7. North Butler 162.

Hampton-Dumont (no team score)– 1. Lydia Maas 19:22.07; 12. Lauren Meader 22:38.16; 47. Kimberly Guillen 27:06.21; 55. Avery Hanson 30:30.94.

West Fork (65)– 5. Kacie Eisentrager 22:13.80; 12. RaeLynn Nash 23:30.38; 14. Mycah Weaver 23:40.20; 15. Olivia Jones 23:40.64; 19. Jordan Swenson 24:06.80; 26. Ava Henricks 24:38.18.

JV Girls Results

H-D (No team score)– 31. Anne Henrichs 30:06.85.

Junior High Girls Results

H-D (No team score)– 6. Lily Hambly 14:37.87; 26. Jaliyah Ivey 18:07.33.

West Fork (No team score)– 3. Leah Weaver 13:33.43.