The Oelwein cross country runners have wrapped up their season with phenomenal performances at the State Cross Country Meet in Fort Dodge Friday. The boys’ team placed third with senior Keshaun Williams finishing fourth overall. Junior Ashlyn Sauser placed 11th in the girls’ race, winding up a successful 2025 season.
Head coach Jason Gearhart expressed his congratulations and looked back on a year of achievements.
“A great season was capped off with a great performance at the state race. For our boys to finish in 3rd place in the state is an unbelievable accomplishment. It was a tough day to run; it was a cold day but as the day progressed, it became windier. Times weren’t great across the board. However, our boys really competed throughout the race; some of the runners held their positions throughout and others moved up steadily
See SEASON, A9
during the race. Our goal was to be on the podium in the top three teams, but we knew it was going to be difficult. Denver was ranked ahead of us and had beaten us four times previously this season so to edge them on Friday was great. I just can’t say enough about the boys’ competitive spirit, their belief and their ability to run not for themselves, but for their teammates.”
Coach Gearhart had this to say about his team’s individual performances.
“Keshaun Williams finishing fourth caps off an incredible career. He just got better each year and proved on Friday that he is one of the best runners in the state. Landon Dowd missed 2nd team all state honors by less than a second. He really competed and he also just got better each year. Kaiden Irvine is one of the top sophomores in the state and he ran like it on Friday. Gabe Driscoll has been battling a sickness for the past week, but he always competes and showed a lot of guts. Drake Steinlage ran a personal best time. As I mentioned, it was a tough day to run. Of the top 80 finishers, only ten runners ran personal bests. For Drake to run his best ever race at the state race is a testament to him. To have a successful state meet, you need a runner to have their best day, and Drake did that for us, going under 18 minutes for the first time. Brandon Rael had a great sophomore season, and he ran well also. Elijah King had a nice career and a great senior season. Elijah battled through an appendectomy earlier this year but just kept running uncomfortable all season.”
“Our four seniors – Keshaun, Landon, Gabe, and Elijah – all ran four years in the cross country program and were a part of four state qualifying teams, including placing 1st, 3rd, and 5th as a team. These four have been excellent teammates and great runners. We will certainly miss them next year.”
Gearhart also praised Sauser’s performance at the state meet and congratulated her on a great season.
“Ashlyn Sauser earned 1st team all state recognition for the second consecutive season by placing 11th on Friday. Ashlyn had another outstanding season and ran a great race on Friday. She has established herself as one of the top runners in Class 2A in the entire state.”
Boys’ State XC Meet – Oelwein individual times:
4th place – Keshaun Williams – 16:26.2
26th place – Landon Dowd – 17:13.4
43rd place – Kaiden Irvine – 17:26.1
62nd place – Gabe Driscoll – 17:46.7
73rd place – Drake Steinlage – 17:53.9 (personal record)
106th place – Brandon Rael – 18:18.7
121st place – Elijah King – 19:02.3
Girls’ State XC Meet – Oelwein individual times:
11th place – Ashlyn Sauser – 19:37.4
State tournament Class 2A boys’ team results (team ranking as of Oct. 27th)
1. Chariton (#1) — 42
2. Forest City (#3) – 110
3. Oelwein (#4) – 130
4. Denver (#2) – 134
5. Unity Christian (#5) – 167
6. Waukon (#8) – 179
7. Red Oak (#10) – 193
8. Spirit Lake (#7) – 195
9. Pella Christian (#6) – 237
10. Monticello (#11) – 247
11. PCM Monroe (#9) – 250
12. Tipton (#13) – 266
13. Mediapolis (#15) – 291
14. Van Meter (#14) – 293
15. Okoboji Milford (#12) – 319
State tournament Class 2A girls’ team results (team ranking as of Oct. 27th)
1. Treynor (#3) – 121
2. Waukon (#7) – 136
3. Unity Christian (#6) – 138
4. West Marshall (#1) – 151
5. PCM Monroe (#8) – 162
6. Van Meter (#4) – 168
7. Pella Christian (#5) – 175
8. Forest City (#9) – 201
9. Mid-Prairie Wellman (#2) – 203
10. Dike-New Hartford (#11) – 210
11. Jesup (#12) – 247
12. Albia (#10) – 248
13. Crestwood Cresco (#14) – 278
14. Grundy Center (#13) – 285
15. MFL MarMac (#15) — 309