Stephen Taylor: Fall brings back memories of cross country
As the fall season approaches, my mind turns to two sporting activities. One is well known, football, which is followed by many, and the other activity cross country, which does not have the same type of following. I write this before the big Cy-Hawk college football game in Iowa, the Hawkeyes vs. Cyclones. If you have been watching Channel 13 you know that RVTV made a stop in Altoona on Monday. Tuesday was the next stop in one of the towns I served as a pastor for seven years, Monroe.
I was at Monroe for RVTV early in the afternoon and there was a good number of people in attendance. With decent weather I am confident other small towns will experience good numbers as the RV slowly makes its way to the destination of Iowa City on Saturday.
Although my attention is drawn to football starting at the high school level all the way to the professionals my real interest lies in cross country. During high school I participated for one year in football and three years in cross country. Both sports provide good fellowship and a team-type atmosphere but due to my lack of size, running was the better sport for me.
As a preview to the season already in progress I asked Southeast Polk boys cross country coach Pat Owens and girls coach Chad Willeford a series of questions. Between them they have 41 years of coaching experience at Southeast Polk, with Owens in his 26th year as a Ram and Willeford in his 15th, and more than 50 in total.
I want to thank the coaches for their years leading young student-athletes. What a blessing it is to have that type of commitment to a sport.
During my three years of cross country the team had two different coaches. My first year we had a recently graduated college distance runner who ran practices with the team so there was no goofing off during workouts. The other coach was a history teacher who went in and graded papers after giving us our workout. I wish we could have kept the first coach but since he lost his school deferment from the military draft he ended up being drafted to serve.
Southeast Polk boys cross country
What was last year’s record along with conference record and place?
Fifth at the CIML Central Conference meet
Returning letter winners:
Seniors: Mason Hausman, Joseph Martin, Carson Owens (14th at 2021 state cross country meet); juniors: Rylan Althof, Brice McNeley, Landon Morrow, Charlie Wilterdink; sophomores: Luke Bartlett, Evan Tollari.
New prospects:
Junior: Bruce Johnson; sophomores: Brock Johnson and Evan Tollari
Outlook and/or goal for the season:
“The goal is always to have a state meet qualifying team,” Owens said. “There are some runners who have worked year-round and have made a great deal of improvement that hopefully helps us get there.”
Teams to beat in the conference this season:
Dowling Catholic, Johnston and Ankeny
Home meet:
Southeast Polk’s boys and girls host a home invitational at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29, at the Rams’ athletic complex course.
Southeast Polk girls cross country
What was last year’s record along with conference record and place?
Fifth at the conference meet and fourth at regionals.
Returning letter winners:
Seniors: Jenna Francois and Jacie Mitchell, both returning state qualifiers; juniors: Libby Hartz, Ivy Glendening, Carli Bennett and Anna VanKooten; sophomores: Taylor Barbour, Alyssa Bartlett and Ashlyn Nelson.
New prospect:
Freshman: Grace Rueber
Outlook and/or goal for the season:
"Top priority goal is to have a positive experience where everyone improves," Willeford said. "Our team goal is to make it back to State as a team. With many returning runners, we have some valuable experience. They know what it takes and what our program is all about."
Teams to beat in the conference this season:
Johnston, Ankeny Centennial and Dowling Catholic
Stephen Taylor is a Pleasant Hill resident and retired minister.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Stephen Taylor: Fall brings back memories of cross country
