Baxter’s Richardson, Handorf score top-35 finishes at state XC meet

FORT DODGE — Junior Matt Richardson finished near his ranking and Max Handorf was the top freshman finisher.

Both Baxter Bolts had a successful state cross country meet at Lakeside Municipal Golf Course inside Kennedy Park on Friday.

“Both Matt and Max are great young men who worked hard throughout the summer and fall to achieve this success,” Baxter head cross country coach Dennis Vaughn said. “Both ran extra intervals and extra miles in practice and on weekends to help them reach their goals.”

Richardson and Handorf were the top two Baxter finishers at every meet this season and they continued their tight performances in Fort Dodge.

Richardson came into the weekend ranked 28th and he finished 30th in the Class 1A boys’ 5K race. Handorf wasn’t too far behind in 34th.

Richardson’s time was clocked in 17 minutes, 5.6 seconds. That was his second-best time of the season, trailing only the 16:40 he posted at Wartburg College on Oct. 10.

Richardson was 55th in last year’s state race. He ran a 17:46.5 in that one.

“This year, I was able to get out of the box faster,” Richardson said. “I think I should have gotten out a little slower though. I didn’t hold my original pace that long.

“I beat one of the Ankeny Christian guys I was chasing. I think it went well. You can always do better I think.”

Handorf’s biggest goal was to be the top freshman finisher and he achieved that when he past Boyer Valley’s Dane Gorham during the race. Gorham finished 4 seconds behind Handorf in 36th.

Handorf posted a career-best time by 17 seconds. He hit the finish line in 17:13.4.

“I’m so happy. I just wanted to stay behind the Boyer Valley kid,” Handorf said. “I noticed he was starting to slow down and I was feeling really good so I just passed him. Then, after that, I focused on reeling Matt in.”

There were 72 runners who finished in under 18 minutes and 23 went under 17. The 15th and final medal winner posted a time of 16:36.

“Matt was 25 places ahead of where he finished last year and 40 seconds faster. That’s a great improvement,” Vaughn said. “Max qualifying as a freshman is extraordinary. He’s only the second runner in school history to do that.

“This was a great way to finish the season.”

Friday’s races included 4A in the morning and 1A in the afternoon. Temperatures got down below 40 degrees for the 1A races. Richardson said he had “locked jaw” the entire race and his arms were pretty numb.

“This was so awesome. I think I got great experience for next year,” Handorf said.

Top-ranked Landon Bendgen of Woodbine won his second straight 1A state title. He was clocked in 15:55.3. Second-ranked Emerson Vokes of Grundy Center was the runner-up in 16:02.5.

Lake Mills won the boys’ 1A team title with 111 points.