Iowa Mennonite School

Jesse Shetler

Kirby Shetler

Jesse and Kirby Shetler took second and fifth places at the Lake Darling cross country meet hosted by Pekin at the state park.  This is the highest either has placed in a high school cross country meet and it comes at a good time in the season.  The state qualifying meet is next Thursday in Wapello.  Both Shetlers started the race conservatively and passed other runners as the race progressed.  Tyler Gosnell of Lone Tree was the only runner Jesse was not able to pass.  He won the race in 17:29, nineteen seconds ahead of Jesse.  Gosnell was 1:11 ahead of Jesse at the IMS Early Bird meet in August.  Rex Yoder and Kobi Russom finished forty-eighth and fiftieth places.

Renee Buckwalter

All the IMS girls ran strong races at Lake Darling.  Renee Buckwalter finished the 4.1 kilometer course in 16:40 which is her fastest pace this year considering the course distance.  She was outkicked by Madison Roth of WACO for a near photo finish for fourth and fifth places.  Madison placed twenty-eighth at the state meet last year.  Celsey Conger of Pekin won the race in 15:13 and her twin Brenna was second.  The Pekin twins went 2-3 at the state meet last year.  Ella Feldman Lone Tree (20^th at state in 2010) was third Thursday.  Madeline Miller, Jamilya Masylbekova and Camila Segar ran the race in pack formation for much of the way helping each other hold a strong pace.  All three raced the fastest they have all year.  Madeline was twenty-sixth in 19:18, Jamilya was twenty-ninth in 19:28 and Camila was thirty-first in 19:30.  This was both Jamilya and Camila’s last race of the season.   

Maddie Miller, Camila Segar, Jama Masylbekova

The girls cross country team will compete in the 1A state qualifier meet hosted by Wapello next Thursday, October 20.   Like the boys, the top three girls teams and ten individuals qualify to advance to the state meet held in Fort Dodge October 29.  Come to Wapello and show your support for your favorite runners.