The Denver and Janesville cross-country teams kicked off their seasons at the Charles City Early Bird Invitational on Thursday, Aug. 28. The 2024 state-qualifying Denver boys and girls teams started the new season with some great results, including four athletes across both teams finishing in the top 10.
Denver girls results
Leading the way for the Cyclone girls was senior Avery Trunkhill, who finished third overall with a time of 21:21.8. That time was roughly a minute and forty seconds off the race winner.
Finishing behind Avery Trunkhill was Teagan Trunkhill, who made an impression in her first career high school cross-country race by finishing with a time of 23:08.7. That time was good enough to place her 16th overall.
Seniors Arianna Valverde and Sophie Sanderson finished roughly four seconds apart in 23th and 26th—the third and fourth team spots—respectively. Valverde finished with a time of 23:41.6 and Sanderson finished in 23:45.3.
Not far from Valverde and Sanderson was Avery McIntosh. McIntosh finished with a time of 23:56.4 to finish 29th overall and round out team scoring.
Finley White, Adeline Decker, and Brooklyn Honn all finished within four seconds of each other to place 35th, 36th and 38th individually. White finished with a time of 24:31.2, Decker finished in 24:34.5, and Honn finished in 24:35.3.
Other athletes who competed for the Cyclones include Kenna Rothmeyer (40th, 24:47.5), Taylor Wilson (43rd, 25:08.5), Madelyn Hockenson (51st, 25:32.2), Emily Mulert (52nd, 25:34.7), Maryn Laures (74th, 27:20.7), Madison Jeys (80th, 27:40.1), and Emma Steege (88th, 28:58.1).
Janesville girls results
For the Wildcat girls, Macie Graham and Anna Sanderson finished around four seconds apart in 65th and 66th place. Graham finished with a time of 26:37.5 and Sanderson finished in 26:41.8.
Next to finish for the Wildcats was Kayla Cox, who finished with a time of 27:13.9. That time was good enough for 73rd place.
Addison Buseman and Maggie Heidemann finished roughly three seconds apart in 75th and 77th place respectively. Buseman finished with a time of 27:24.3 and Heidemann finished with a time of 27:27.2.
Finally for the Wildcats was Tianna Cox in 85th place. Cox finished with a time of 28:08.1.
Denver boys results
In the boys race, the Cyclones had three runners inside the top 10 and seven runners inside the top 20. Myles Matthias led the team and placed second overall in the race with a time of 17:09.9, which was roughly 30 seconds off the race winner.
Placing sixth overall and second on the team was Caden Knoblock. Knoblock finished with a time of 17:54.4.
Ethan Doty was the next Cyclone to finish with a time of 18:04.2, good enough for 10th place overall.
The fourth Cyclone across the finish line was Mitchell Doepke, who finished 14th overall with a time of 18:29.8.
Scout Wooldrik and Ethan Pagel finished four seconds apart in 17th and 18th place—fifth and sixth on the team. Wooldrik finished with a time of 18:54.6 and Pagel finished in 18:58.1.
Cy Walton was the final Cyclone to finish in the top 20. Walton placed 20th with a time of 19:20.7.
Other competitors for the Cyclone boys included Devin Homan (22nd, 19:44.3), Sean Breitbach (26th, 19:47.4), Kale Dahlager (28th, 19:49.6), Colby Tucker (29th, 19:49.9), Caleb Miller (30th, 19:53.6), Josh Rabenhorst (32nd, 20:05.5), Simeon Ricketts (36th, 20:11.9), Oliver Tiedt (53rd, 21:29.5), Eric Law (56th, 21:48.4), Maddox Valverde (63rd, 22:02.8), Matthew Mulert (64th, 22:08.2), Kinnick Scott (65th, 22:19.1), Wilson Kimmich (69th, 22:26.9), Josiah Swales (78th, 23:04.1), Riley Brandt (89th, 23:57.1), Henry Pautsch (98th, 24:39.3), Kaden Kleinheksel (114th, 26:18.4), Emery Thomas (115th, 26:24.0), Rowen Smith (118th, 27:01.2), and Nick Sattherwaite (128th, 33:38.4).
Janesville boys results
Finishing first for the Wildcat boys was Jason Westendorf, who placed 85th overall. Westendorf completed the race in 23:35.4.
Seth Gregorsok and Noah Gansen finished roughly three seconds apart in 106th and 107th overall. Gregorsok finished with a time of 25:14.8 and Gansen finished with a time of 25:14.8.
The fourth finisher for the Wildcats was Tristan Arensdorf. Arensdorf finished with a time of 27:59.5, which placed him 121st overall.
Zan VanSlyke finished 125th overall and fifth on the team with a time of 28:56.0.
In sixth, Trevor Henry finished in 34:18.7 for 129th overall.
Next for the Cyclone boys and girls teams will be the Oelwein Cross Country Invitational at Hickory Grove Golf Course on Tuesday, Sept. 2, which begins at 5 p.m. The Wildcats boys and girls teams will travel to Eldora on Thursday, Sept. 4 for the Pine Lake Run beginning at 6 p.m.
