The women's cross country team punched their ticket to their ninth consecutive State Cross Country Meet finishing second in the State Qualifying Meet on Wednesday afternoon.  The Bombers finished with 53 team points just behind Pella who won the meet with 49 team points.  

Paityn Noe was the individual champion running in a time of 17:15.08.  The second place finisher, Marissa Ferebee of Pella, finished 1:37 behind Noe.  Annika Larson finished 4th overall running in a time of 19:13.83.  Ava Vance, 7th place, finished with a time of 19:38.94 and Ava Richardson finished 16th in a time of 20:16.55.  Brynn Wilson finished in a time of 21:21.55 good enough for a 25th place finish.  McKenzie Dee (26th - 21:24.75) and Raegan Loewe (36th - 21:54.08) rounded out the line-up for the Bombers.

Comments From Head Coach Scott Barth:

"The girls ran their way to their 19th state meet appearance (and 9th in a row) on Wednesday at the Pella SQM. They ran a good race but came up just short of Pella to place second. Paityn Noe did her thing by taking 1st in a time of 17:15. That put her almost a minute and thirty seconds in front of the second place runner from Pella who broke the Pella school record.

Next, came Annika Larson who held on to a 4th place finish in a PR of 19:13. Ava Vance ran well in 7th place with a time of 19:38 which is inching closer to her PR which she set at state meet last season. Ava Richardson continues to improve and run well placing just out of individual state qualifying position taking 16th in 20:16 which is a big PR for her! Brynn Wilson ran well in her 3rd race since returning from injury with a 21:21 which is her season best which was good for 25th to close out our scoring. McKenzie Dee surged through the race to finish 26th with a solid time of 21:24, which is her season best as well. Raegan Loewe closed out varsity with a 36th place finish in a season best time of 21:54.

So we ran a good race against a very talented and deserving Pella squad. It was a battle between the #1 and #2 ranked teams in the state and it didn't disappoint. Fortunately, we will get another chance to prove ourselves at the state meet in Fort Dodge. We ran well, but the added week to freshen up our legs and focus on our race will help us to make a push for the state title. It will not be easy by any stretch of my imagination, but we will give it our best shot."

The Bombers are back in action on Saturday - October 29 when they compete in the State Meet in Fort Dodge.  The meet will start at 10:30 AM.

STATE QUALIFYING MEET WOMEN'S TEAM SCORES 

1. Pella, 49

2. Ballard, 53

3. Carlisle, 96

4. Iowa Falls-Alden, 106

5. Winterset, 149

6. Nevada, 167

7. Benton Community, 184

8. Oskaloosa, 218

9. Newton, 230

10. Bondurant-Farrar, 231

11. Grinnell, 270

12. Knoxville, 336

13. Des Moines Hoover, 403

STATE QUALIFYING MEET WOMEN'S INDIVIDUAL TIMES

1 Paityn Noe, 17:15.08, Individual State Qualifier

4 Annika Larson, 19:13.83, Individual State Qualifier

7 Ava Vance, 19:38.94, Individual State Qualifier

16 Ava Richardson, 20:16.55

25 Brynn Wilson, 21:21.55

26 McKenzie Dee, 21:24.75

36 Raegan Loewe, 21:54.08