With their ticket in hand, the boy’s cross country team traveled to Fort Dodge, Iowa to find a place on the podium on October 29, 2021 at the state meet. Ford Washburn ‘23 led the team, placing 4th in the race.

“I’m really glad I got to race against the people I did,” Ford Washburn said. “They pushed me really hard throughout the race and gave me that drive to finish the race.”

Competing athletes Ford Washburn ‘23, Ammon Smith ‘23, Elliot Dunnwald ‘22, Noah Carey ‘23, Truman Thompson ‘23, Sullivan Hall ‘22, and Parker Max ‘22 placed 3rd overall at state. Dowling Catholic West Des Moines placed 1st overall, overtaking previously #1 ranked Sioux City North who placed 2nd as a team. 

“I think having a breakthrough last year and having everyone come back was promising. We knew we could do something this year,” Elliot Dunnwald ‘22 said. 

Dunnwald is one of the three seniors on the team, and winning a state title with the team meant a lot. In the 2018 and 2019 seasons, Dunnwald and Sullivan Hall were places five and six on the varsity squad, but when juniors joined, that changed. Dunnwald is hopeful that next year the senior class will win at the 2022 cross country state meet.

“I was just listening to my place and where the coaches said I needed to be in order to place well as a team,” Dunnwald said. “With that, I think I went from high 20s to 16th.” 

One of the top ten individual placers was Ford Washburn. He placed 4th with a time of 15:32.88, leading the race in the 1st and 2nd miles. Ford had been placing in the top five in most of the races in the 2021 season and was really happy about how his team and himself had raced at state. Gabe Nash ‘23 of Sioux City North offered competition as they were neck and neck until the finish line. Washburn ran the third fastest time at state by a City High runner as well as owns three of the top 50 fastest times run at state by a City High runner.

“We are very proud of our 3rd place finish and being only 16 points away from first place at the state meet this year.” Jayme Skay, head coach of the boy’s cross country said. “The team and coaches have worked hard over the past few years to rebuild the program into one that is respected and will compete with the best in the state.”