Messenger file photo by Britt Kudla: Thatcher Oswald of Manson Northwest Webster was fifth individually and secured a state bid on Thursday.

PELLA — Alyssa Richman took care of business here Thursday, claiming a state-qualifier title to secure her spot in the upcoming Class 2A state cross country championships.

Richman, a senior from Manson Northwest Webster, won the race in 19:19, finishing 20 seconds ahead of runner-up Brooklyn Stutzman from Mid-Prairie.

Joining her in Fort Dodge from Lakeside Golf Course next Saturday will be MNW boys standout Thatcher Oswald, as he also earned an individual bid by finishing fifth overall.

For Richman, this marks her fourth time qualifying for state in as many years. She crossed in a career-best third place at state last year after placing seventh in 2022 and 33rd as a freshman.

Raygin Anderson was 52nd overall for the Cougars on Thursday in 23:53, while Ella Niewoehner took 83rd, Bianca Aquino 85th and Aazilynn Felix 90th.

Katie Field was the highest finisher for Southeast Valley, placing 57th in 24:04. Autumn Jones-Popp was 67th, Hailey Rees 74th, Brooke Peterson 79th, Meia Hefley 81st, Abbi Tucker 88th and Amelia Christensen 91st.

Pocahontas Area’s Alli Lake was 71st in 25:04, Ashlyn Duitscher finished 86th and Erica Crotty was 87th.

Oswald, a junior, went 17:04 to land in the Top-10, as Grundy Center’s Emerson Vokes was the race winner in 15:47. MNW teammate Kyle Widlund finished 22nd in 18:11 while Rowan Poutre was 32nd, Brody Proctor was 43rd, Tysin Anderson was 51st, freshman Logan Meyer 56th and Connor Proctor was 62nd.

Owen Nuss paced Southeast Valley, as the sophomore was 38th in 19:20. Lincoln Akins finished 46th, Ethan Tucker was 50th, Drew Dorsey was 53rd, Carver Peterson was 59th, Logan Bintz was 65th and Kyeo Augustin was 68th.

For Pocahontas Area, Justin Shearer went 20:37 for 63rd while Dean Mowry was 75th, Julio Valenzuela was 78th and Paul Peterson was 86th.

Brabec, Schupbach, Meyer advance

HOLSTEIN — Three Twin Lakes Conference runners earned spots in the upcoming Class 1A state championships at a qualifying meet on Thursday.

Newell-Fonda’s Mareni Brabec and Danika Meyer will be joined by Tyra Schupbach from West Bend-Mallard next week in Fort Dodge at Lakeside Golf Course.

Brabec was sixth overall for the Mustangs in a time of 20:53 while Meyer placed eighth in 21:11. Between those two was Schupbach, who clocked a run of 21:00 for seventh.

Another TLC runner, Nora Peterson from Alta-Aurelia, won the race in 19:02 to lead her team to gold. Sioux Central also secured a spot at state by placing second with West Bend-Mallard fourth, Newell-Fonda fifth and Emmetsburg seventh.

Rory Elbert was the top finisher for the E-Hawks, placing 26th overall.

In the boys race, Krayton Rutledge from Emmetsburg was 35th, Jack Olsen of Newell-Fonda placed 39th and Silas Bindel of West Bend-Mallard was 53rd.

SCC’s Melody, Potts earn state bid

Redge Potts and Iris Melody will represent South Central Calhoun at the Class 2A state cross country championships next week.

Both earned individual bids at qualifying meets on Thursday, as did Noah Hinote from Greene County.

Potts competed at Red Oak, as he was third in 17:27 — less than a second behind Evan Osler of Okoboji. Kyle Wagoner from Clarinda finished first in 16:49.

Derek Greene was 77th, Landen Evans was 78th, Kayden Hammen was 86th, Landon Anderson was 88th and Jacob Smith was 89th.

Melody, a junior, was fourth in Leon with a time of 20:42. Lili Denton from Council Bluffs St. Albert won the race in 18:25.

Teammate Breanna Patterson was 23rd and Elin Sjostedt finished 37th. Jossa Haupert was 42nd, Katie Burley was 44th and Adlen Wheelock was 46th.

Hinote was eighth overall for Greene County, clocking a time of 17:56.

Sporrer, Aragon to represent Raiders

ORANGE CITY — Landon Sporrer and Riley Aragon earned individual bids to the Class 2A state cross country meet here Thursday.

Sporrer was 10th to lead East Sac County. Aragon finished 13th overall for the Raiders.

Both juniors, Sporrer went 17:08 and Aragon recorded a time of 17:20.

Owen Engel was 22nd, Xander Hemer finished 59th and Kenton Ackerman was 81st overall.

For the ESC girls, Libbie Veit finished 34th in 23:12.

Eagle Grove runs in qualifier

OELWEIN — The Eagle Grove cross country team competed for a final time in 2024 here Thursday at a Class 2A state qualifier.

The Eagle boys placed seventh overall, as both Zabdi Castro and Felix Reyes placed in the Top-40.

Castro, a senior, was 35th in 18:57 while Reyes, a junior, was 36th in 19:02. Hunter Waldo-Martinez finished 46th, and Asarel Castro was 48th.

Myka Anderson was the top finisher for the girls, as the freshman placed 65th in 24:23. Maria Perez was 75th overall.