Calamus-Wheatland's Noelle Steines, Woodbine's Landon Bendgen win Iowa state cross country titles in 1A
FORT DODGE − Noelle Steines didn't think she'd be competing during the Class 1A girls race at the state cross country meet Friday at Lakeside Municipal Golf Course.
Three months ago the Calamus-Wheatland sophomore, who also does baton twirling, popped her kneecap out of place and suffered a partially torn patellar tendon doing a tumbling trick.
"If you would've asked me three months ago if I would've done this I would've laughed in your face," Steines said. "I didn't think I was going to make it in time for the season. It was really hard going into meets and everybody asking me if I was going to make it back because I really didn't know. The sadness and confusion I experienced with that really fueled me."
But she fought her way back to earn the No. 1 ranking heading into state. At the state meet she was in a battle with Sibley-Ocheyedan's Madison Brouwer, last year's runner-up in 2A.
The two runners went back and forth down the stretch and were neck-and-neck heading toward the finish line. Steines got just enough distance in the final meters to hold off Brouwer, running her best time of the season at 18 minutes, 39.45 seconds to beat Brouwer's time of 18:42.12 and claim her second state championship.
"I was really scared going into this race because I didn't know what my full potential was, but I stuck with her (Brouwer) and my mind really took over," Steines said. "I really couldn't ask for anything better this year."
Earlham won the 1A girls team championship with 101 points. South Winneshiek was second with 116 points.
Regina dethrones ACGC for 1A boys team championship
Iowa City Regina prevented Adair-Casey/Guthrie Center from repeating as the 1A boys team champion.
Regina scored 102 points to beat ACGC's score of 126. The Regals had three runners place in the top 35 in Aidan O'Neil (sixth in 16:26.85), Dan Maley (29th in 17:18.76) and Joe Maley (32nd in 17:25.04).
Henry Bottorf was 53rd in 17:44.83 and Riordan Smith 66th in 17:57.70 for the Regals.
ACGC was led by Justin Reinhart, who placed 12th in 16:43.45. Andrew Mahaffey placed 21st in 17:00.89, Noah Kading 59th in 17:49.63, Tyconder Ellis 67th in 17:59.15 and Bo Arrasmith 72nd in 18:02.57.
Woodbine's Landon Bendgen won the 1A boys race. Bendgen, who placed 53rd as a freshman and 42nd as a sophomore, completed his remarkable rise as a junior by running a 15:58.11.
"It felt amazing," Bendgen said. "Even last year I never thought I would've been in this spot."
Bendgen's phenomenal run came on the heels of suffering a stress fracture in his fibula during track last spring.
"I've had some good training," Bendgen said. "I got hurt last track season, but mid-June I started putting more work in and that got me in a good spot. Coming into the season I knew I was in great shape and I knew I could do it."
Bendgen was the only 1A boys runner to break 16 minutes. IKM-Manning's Caden Keller was second in 16:13.07.
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Earlham girls, Regina boys win 1A Iowa state cross country titles
