Quentin Nauman is in fast form already: 15:12 at the Prairie Invitational

CEDAR RAPIDS — So much for sit-and-kick.

That’s a game Quentin Nauman never loses. And it was a game he wasn’t forced to play Saturday morning at the Prairie Invitational cross country meet.

A senior at Western Dubuque, Nauman looked every bit the favorite to win a second consecutive Class 3A state championship.

In his first meeting of the season against not-so-bitter rival Canaan Dunham of Pella, Nauman pulled steadily away in the second half of the race and won it in 15 minutes, 12 seconds.

“I felt myself getting faster up the hills,” said Nauman, a commit of the University of Oregon. “I looked back when I was going around the corners, I was pulling away, and it was like, ‘Whoa, this never happens.’”

Nauman’s final margin of victory was a relatively stress-free 25 seconds, even if his heart race was at 202 beats per minute when he finished.

“I’m very happy,” he said. “My coach said that if I felt good in the second mile, don’t wait. We took it out in 4:40 (in the first mile). I went for it. I ran to compete.”

Nauman and Dunham are pals. They shared a quick hug after Dunham crossed the line, then formed an impromptu tunnel for the other runners, sharing a word of support to some as they passed through.

That included a triumphant pack from Iowa City High. Led by third-place finisher Linus McRoberts (15:56), the Little Hawks placed all five scorers in the top 15 and won the boys’ team title with 45 points. Dubuque Senior edged Cedar Rapids Prairie for second, 72-75.

“Breaking 16 (minutes) feels great,” McRoberts said. “I really wanted to do that at this meet.

“Our pack running is really helpful. The first two miles, I was running with David (Randall) and Emmett (Palmberg). Our depth sets us apart from a lot of teams.”

Randall and Palmberg finished sixth and eighth. Prairie’s Kyle Johnson and Cole Carrizales were fourth and fifth.

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The girls’ race, as expected, was a Pella monopoly. Reigning state champion Marissa Ferebee (an Arkansas recruit), Elsie Brenneman and Lizzy Vande Voort ran 1-2-3, with Ferebee finishing in 18:32.

Monticello freshman Mary Grace Lyons fearlessly ran with that trio for much of the race, finishing fourth in 19:04.

“I didn’t know how long I could stay with them; I tried to stay with them as long as I could,” said Lyons, a former middle-school state champion.

“I had a good feel for this race. I ate well, had good rest and a good (music) playlist that put me in a good mindset.”

Prairie’s Harper Groteluschen was fifth, leading the Hawks to a second-place team finish with 86 points. Pella won it with 21.

Girls results

TEAMS

1. Pella 21, 2. C.R. Prairie 86, 3. Cedar Falls 99, 4. Linn-Mar 100, 5. Fort Madison 155, 6. Williamsburg 178, 7. Monticello 200, 8. Western Dubuque 206, 9. Clear Creek Amana 228, 10. Muscatine 244, 11. Marion 263, 12. Central Lee 347, 13. Davenport West 392.

INDIVIDUALS

1. Marissa Ferebee (Pella), 18:32; 2. Elsie Brenneman (Pella), 18:38; 3. Lizzy VandeVoort (Pella), 18:51; 4. Mary Grace Lyons (Monticello), 19:04; 5. Harper Groteluschen (C.R. Prairie), 19:17; 6. Carleigh Altwine (Pella), 19:26; 7. Avery Rump (Fort Madison), 19:27; 8. Reese Wiley (C.R. Prairie), 20:10; 9. Mia Deegan (C.R. Xavier), 20:15; 10. Ruth Dunham (Pella), 20:16.

Boys results

TEAMS

1. Iowa City High 45, 2. Dubuque Senior 72, 3. C.R. Prairie 75, 4. Pella 82, 5. Clear Creek Amana 138, 6. Western Dubuque 142, 7. Fort Madison 209, 8. Muscatine 272, 9. Monticello 282, 10. Williamsburg 283, 11. West Liberty 316, 12. C.R. Xavier 322, 13. Marion 343, 14. Central Lee 370.

INDIVIDUALS

1. Quentin Nauman (Western Dubuque), 15:12; 2. Canaan Dunham (Pella), 15:37; 3. Linus McRoberts (City High), 15:56; 4. Kyle Johnson (C.R. Prairie), 16:07; 5. Cole Carrizales (C.R. Prairie), 16:09; 6. David Randall (City High), 16:20; 7. Owen Miller (C.R. Prairie), 16:34; 8. Emmett Palmberg (City High), 16:36; 9. Jack Kirman (Dbq. Senior), 16:38; 10. Owen Anderson (Dbq. Senior), 16:39.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com