Linn-Mar’s Ethan Cheney keeps his sub-16 streak alive

CEDAR FALLS — On paper, this looked like a star-studded boys’ field.

It didn’t pan out.

“I was definitely hoping for more competition,” said Linn-Mar’s Ethan Cheney, the third-place finisher at the Rich Engel Classic cross country meet Thursday afternoon at Birdsall Park.

“I’m just glad that (Bettendorf’s) A.J. (Willey) and Andrew (Heden) ran.”

The top-ranked runners in Class 4A (Cedar Falls’ Jaden Merrick), Class 3A (Western Dubuque’s Quentin Nauman) and Class 2A (Grundy Center’s Emerson Vokes) sat this one out.

Same with Iowa City Liberty’s Keegan Decker (ranked No. 2 in 4A) and Cedar Rapids Kennedy’s duo of Slader Buckheister and Adam Gray.

Scheduling conflicts were the reason: Saturday holds some elite races in Iowa and beyond.

At any rate, Willey and Heden ran 1-2, in 15:42 and 15:49, respectively. Cheney was next in 15:53.

“I wasn’t sure I was going to break 16,” Cheney said. “That’s my goal for every race. So far this season, I’ve done it.”

The speedsters’ absence didn’t change Cheney’s approach.

“I went out fast like usual, then it was (a matter of) seeing where that pace would take me,” he said. “I figured that eventually (Willey) would catch up with me.”

Bettendorf was the boys’ team champion with 60 points, followed by Dubuque Senior (87) and Dubuque Hempstead (95). Led by Michael Hanna (fifth in 16:32), Iowa City West placed fourth with 120.

Dubuque Senior (32), Davenport Central (60) and Decorah (75) were the top three girls’ teams.

Decorah had four top-20 runners, led by seventh-place Olivia Volkmann (20:33).

“It was a hard course,” Volkmann said. “I was running for our team’s effort, not for myself.”

Central’s Joley Sullivan was the top girl, in 18:29, followed by Senior’s Emma Chesterman (18:51).

Girls Results

TEAMS

1. Dubuque Senior 32, 2. Davenport Central 60, 3. Decorah 75, 4. Mason City 93, 5. Western Dubuque 149, 6. Dubuque Hempstead 187, 7. Urbandale 201, 8. Cedar Falls 202, 9. C.R. Kennedy 278, 10. Grundy Center 283, 11. Waterloo West 292, 12. C.R. Jefferson 337.

INDIVIDUALS

1. Joley Sullivan (Dav Central), 18:29; 2. Emma Chesterman (Dbq Senior), 18:51; 3. Nakia Ollivierre (Wat West), 19:17; 4. Brogan Evans (Mason City), 20:06; 5. Nevaeh Kessler (Dbq Senior), 20:17; 6. Briel Bechen (Dbq Senior), 20:24; 7. Olivia Volkmann (Decorah), 20:33; 8. Rhemidy Brack (Dav Central), 20:38; 9. Stella Weber (Dbq Senior), 20:47; 10. Lise Hoyer (Dbq Senior), 20:48.

Boys Results

TEAMS

1. Bettendorf 60, 2. Dubuque Senior 87, 3. Dubuque Hempstead 95, 4. Iowa City West 120, 5. Linn-Mar 126, 6. Davenport Central 135, 7. Decorah 149, 8. Urbandale 157, 9. C.R. Kennedy 271, 10. Western Dubuque 316, 11. Waterloo West 346, 12. Mason City 352, 13. Cedar Falls 361, 14. C.R. Washington 424, 15. C.R. Jefferson 434, 16. Grundy Center 498, 17. Valley Lutheran 547, 18. Waterloo East 561, 19. Cedar Ridge Christian 565.

INDIVIDUALS

1. A.J. Willey (Bettendorf), 15:42; 2. Andrew Heden (Bettendorf), 15:49; 3. Ethan Cheney (Linn-Mar), 15:53; 4. Zack Ryan (Dav Central), 16:23; 5. Michael Hanna (IC West), 16:32; 6. Jack Kirman (Dbq Senior), 16:42; 7. Ashton Hensley (Urbandale), 16:41; 8. Liam Kroger (Dbq Senior), 16:42; 9. Henry Hansen (Mason City), 16:44; 10. Lincoln McMahon (Kennedy), 16:44.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com