June 27, 2024

Short-handed Newton boys take fifth at Grinnell

Despite missing key varsity pieces, Cardinals fare better than Knoxville

By Troy Hyde
Javin Doland

Newton junior Javin Doland, left, was the top Cardinal finisher at the Grinnell Invitational on Tuesday. He was 18th in the boys' 5K race. (Troy Hyde/Newton News)

GRINNELL — Missing a trio of its varsity runners, the Newton boys cross country team knew it would have a hard time competing against three ranked opponents on Tuesday.

The Cardinals, despite all four varsity regulars posting season-best times, also trailed host Grinnell in the final standings at the Grinnell Invitational at Ahrens Recreation Complex.

“Despite the small team, Newton still took down multiple teams,” Newton boys’ head cross country coach Steve Weeks said. “Times are still not where the boys want to be as there seems to be missing pieces to the puzzle that make up a great race.”

Landon Menninga

Newton senior Landon Menninga, right, competes in the Grinnell Invitational at Ahrens Recreation Complex on Tuesday. The Cardinals were fifth as a team. (Troy Hyde/Newton News

In the end, Class 3A No. 1 Pella was too good for everyone as the Dutch put nine runners in the first 14 positions and won the meet with 18 points.

Class 3A No. 16 South Tama County was the runner-up with 76 points, 2A No. 10 Williamsburg scored 90 in third and Grinnell (101) and Newton (131) completed the top five.

Knoxville (139) and Benton Community (173) rounded out the seven-team field.

The boys’ 5K race was moved up to a 9:15 a.m. start in an attempt to beat the heat. Newton made the meet optional and three varsity regulars chose to stay home.

Javin Doland led the Cardinals in 18th with a season-best time of 18 minutes, 26.8 seconds.

“We are tweaking race strategies, diet, workout regimen and even sleep patterns to find that perfect race-day chemistry,” Weeks said. “The Cardinals continue to have movement in almost all positions in the team as we are starting to see more parity in competitiveness.”

Landon Menninga placed 22nd with a season-best time of 18:42.8 and Asher Wood made his season debut on varsity and placed 25th in a season-best time of 18:51.4.

Christian Buchli was 32nd with a season-best time of 19:04.4. Colin Cummins (25:03.4) was the final varsity scoring runner in 99th and Thomas Tidball (29:10.6) and Devan Wengel (49:27.6) finalized the lineup.

Christian Buchli and Asher Wood

Newton junior Christian Buchli and senior Asher Wood were two of four varsity runners competing at the Grinnell Invitational on Tuesday. (Troy Hyde/Newton News)

Tidball ran in his first-ever 5K race and Wengel dropped 3 minutes off his previous best time.

Newton was missing varsity regulars Jesus Murillo, Presley Arnold and Lance Zaabel.

“No one likes getting beat by athletes they’ve always finished in front of, but it’s fantastic motivation, and they guys are mature enough to understand that, too,” Weeks said. “Javin came in first from Newton for the first time and Asher Wood had a huge drop in time to where he would have been a point scorer even with the entire team running.”

Class 3A No. 2 Canaan Dunham of Pella won the boys’ 5K race in 16:11.2 and 3A No. 6 Nathan Vanderwaal of Pella was the runner-up in 16:16.1.

Class 3A No. 3 Tommy Tyynismaa of South Tama County also went under 17 minutes as he finished third in 16:31.4.