November 1, 2016
In the face of adversity, City’s varsity runners, led by four year letter winner Mary Arch, banded together as a team and travelled to Fort Dodge on October 29th for the annual state cross country meet. Living in the shadow of last year’s fourth place finish, the girls’ main focus was to one-up themselves.
“The Balcony” (first through third place) was always a goal. From the start of the season, Head Coach Tom Mittman preached that the girls had the potential to be one of the top three programs in the state. The Balcony is the winner’s podium at the state cross country meet, and every varsity runner thrives to achieve this position.
The girls’ main competition was powerhouse Johnston, who ended the day with a final score of 26, winning the meet with the lowest point total in state history. Another foe was rival West High. West’s lead runner, Bailey Nock ‘18, won the meet in individual first place, but her team finished fifth.
The seven City varsity runners started out the race in formation; however, by the end, Anna Lindower ‘19, one of City High’s top runners, had fallen behind her usual spot. Her six other teammates pushed hard to make up for her lost position.
“[The race] was a great demonstration of cross country and what it takes to have a true team effort when one of your best runners just has a rough day and just doesn’t have it,” Mittman said. “Everybody stepped up and came to her assistance at the end.”
City’s varsity squad ended the day finishing third at the meet, achieving Coach Mittman’s goal of being on The Balcony. The Little Hawks had not made an appearance in the top three since 2010. Mary Arch ‘17 ran her final race for the Little Hawks with a time of 18:59, placing 7th at the meet. Emily Bywater ‘17 (19:15), Bridget Brown ‘18 (19:33), Kinsee Brands ‘18 (19:41), Annie Rummelhart ‘19 (19:46), Esti Brady ‘20 (19:58), and Anna Lindower ‘19 (21:08) filed in line after her. City’s final score was 121.
Arch, Bywater, and Lindower led the way for the Little Hawks throughout the season. Brown suffered various injuries spanning most of her high school career, returning for her complete junior season. Three new varsity runners, Brands, Rummelhart, and Brady, all ran well throughout the year, assisting City’s top squad.
The true preparation for the state meet started this June when the 70 some members of the team clocked in for summer running. Quantity and quality defined the Little Hawks this year when the biggest team in recent history signed up for the sport. The large size of the team allowed the girls to work together and encourage each other to run further and faster. It also gave the team depth. Fifteen different girls ran varsity for Coach Mittman.
When the curtain fell on the cross country season, emotions started spilling out. Team captains Arch and Bywater both hung up their spikes finishing third in the state.
“[Cross country] has changed my life. Everything about this team, from the friendships to the hard work to the lessons I’ve learned,” Bywater said. “It’s been the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
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