West Fork cross country teams participate at Bronco Invitational

Within the camp of the West Fork cross country teams, the Warhawks are sitting in a good spot. There is plenty of room to grow, and if the day is not the best, they don’t have to dip down very far.

At the Belmond-Klemme Cross Country Meet, which took place on Sept. 7 at the Belmond Country Club, the Warhawks saw the emergence of junior Josh Hagins and a strong showing from senior Kacie Eisentrager and the West Fork girls.

Hagins came in 10th in the boys’ side of the Bronco Invite, clocking in a time of 19:23. Eisentrager, who was West Fork’s lone returning State Meet representative, finished with a 19th place showing and a time of 24:50.

Overall, there were five Warhawk girls who finished in the top 25, and another who was just outside of that number.

In the team standings, the Warhawk girls placed fourth and the West Fork boys took ninth. The Roland-Story won the girls’ meet, and the Clear Lake boys won their side of the Bronco Invitational.

The Warhawks will take part in the Clear Lake Invitational, which is set to start at 4:15 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Golf Club in Clear Lake. There, West Fork will run up against a multitude of teams, ranging from Ames to Humboldt and teams from within the Top of Iowa Conference.

At the beginning of next week, the Warhawk cross country teams will welcome teams and supporters alike for West Fork Invitational, set for 4:15 p.m. next Monday at the Linn Grove Country Club in Rockwell City. There, West Fork will race against Belmond-Klemme, Lake Mills, Newman Catholic, North Butler, North Iowa and Northwood-Kensett.

Results from each of these meets will be posted in upcoming editions of The Pioneer-Enterprise/Sheffield Press.

Following Eisentrager was a solid core of runners, with freshman Leah Weaver (21st, 25:09), freshman Tarah Rukdashal (23rd, 25:27), senior Mycah Weaver (24th, 25:33) and sophomore Olivia Jones (25th, 25:38)

Junior RaeLynn Nash finished just outside of the top 25, taking 26th with a time of 25:40. Junior Maddy Welbus rounded out the Warhawk girls with a 44th place finish and a time of 28:02.

Following Hagins was a slew of West Fork runners, led by sophomore Edison Maske (49th, 22:50), sophomore Austin Altick (51st, 23:02), freshman Asher Wiseman (52nd, 23:09) and sophomore Sander Tompkins (53rd, 23:13).

Sophomore Dillon Sturges recorded a 61st place finish with a time of 25:02, followed by freshman Trent Wise’s 64th place outing and time of 26:25.

Sophomore Parker Eisentrager (27:49), junior Jake Swenson (27:52) and senior Austin Leininger (29:50) also took place in the boys’ race.

Even though they didn’t field a full team, the West Fork Middle School girls had a strong showing. Seventh grader Evia Heitshusen won the girls’ race, topping the field with a time of 16:40.

Seventh grader Elle Harms was close behind, finishing fifth overall with a time of 19:22.

The West Fork Middle School boys had a good place to work from, as the Warhawks finished third in the team standings.

Seventh grader Max Martinek led the way with a ninth place finish, completing the race with a time of 17:40. Seventh grader Aiyzk Wiseman took 14th and a time of 18:43, followed by classmate Owen Wedmore (15th, 18:57), Carter Willms (18th, 20:20) and Brett Behr (19th, 22:05).

Seventh grader Andrew Baker rounded out the young Warhawks, landing 22nd with a time of 24:55.