Sophomore Standouts Have Formed One Of Iowa's Top Tandems

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

If it’s a distance workout, Paityn Noe typically finds herself trying to keep pace with teammate Shewaye Johnson. But if it’s a sprint workout, there is Johnson, working in overdrive to keep up with Noe.

“I feel like we push each other a lot, and that’s what you need to get better,” Johnson said.

Noe and Johnson are the two sensational sophomores from Ballard Community High in Huxley, Iowa, a small town of roughly 3,900 people located between Ames and Des Moines.

Despite their size – both stand at 5 feet 3 – they are perhaps the most talented one-two punch in Iowa.

Johnson and Noe will try to lead the Bombers to a second consecutive 3A team title in their race at 4:30 p.m. CDT Friday at the Iowa State Cross Country Championships at Lakeside Municipal Golf Course in Fort Dodge.

In the process, they hope to become the first two teammates in 3A girls history (out of four classifications) to finish first and second, in addition to leading their team to a state title in the same season.

The closest any program came to achieving that feat in 3A was in 2000, when Iowa City West had Jeni Frudden and Lesley Smith finish first and third, leading the Trojans to a third team championship in four years.

Iowa has since gone through restructuring from three classifications to four, beginning in 2003, with the Dowling Catholic duo of Ashlie Decker and Katie Flood the only teammates to accomplish the goal in 4A, sweeping the top two spots and contributing to the team championship each year from 2007-09.

Following the expansion of postseason groupings, Tipton was the first 2A girls program to achieve the feat in 2004, followed by North Tama in the 1A girls classification in 2005. In the past decade, only Wellman Mid-Prairie has accomplished the goal in the 2A girls classification in 2017 and Pekin is the only 1A girls program to achieve the feat in 2010.

“We are very fortunate to have the two of them, because I don’t think they’d be where they are without each other,” Ballard coach Scott Barth said. “At practice, they are always side by side, they are always challenging each other, but they have that balance, so they don’t let it go overboard. They both realize that they help each other.”

Both Noe and Johnson are relatively new to the sport of running.

Noe, a natural athlete, grew up playing softball and basketball, but didn’t start running cross country until the eighth grade.

Johnson, who was born in Ethiopia and lived in an orphanage when she was youngerspent time in an orphanage, was adopted by Justin Johnson (a sixth grade teacher at Ballard) and Heather Johnson of Huxley.

Enrolled at Ballard in the sixth grade, Shewaye Johnson joined the cross country team a year later and began to adjust to the ins and outs of the sport and competition.

But the pair have taken to running and find fulfillment in the hard work and payoff that goes with it.

“You know how everyone has their thing?” Johnson said. “I feel like it’s my thing. Running is something I love, and it’s something I enjoy, whether it’s with people or by myself.”

Noe added: “Even though it’s really hard, I like the feeling of accomplishment after a race.”

Last fall as freshmen, the tandem emerged as the top runners for Ballard. Johnson finished an impressive 34th overall at the Roy Griak Invitational and second at the 3A state meet in 18:40.3, trailing only senior Adrianna Katcher of Center Point Urbana (18:29.4). Noe was right behind at the state final, clocking 18:44.4 for third.

Like the rest of the high school athletics in America, the Noe and Johnson lost their spring track season due to the Coronavirus pandemic. With limited interaction, Barth said he fed his team workouts, and Noe and Johnson kept on training, maintaining a solid and steady base in the hopes of a cross country season.

“Once we found out (track) was cancelled, I was already running, and I was like, ‘I should just keep running,’ and keep a running schedule throughout the summer,” Noe said. “I really just wanted to do well this year and I thought it would be really good for me if I started early.”

Barth describes Noe and Johnson as quiet individuals, who have different running styles and strengths.

Noe is more of a student of the sport, asking questions, wanting to know all the intricacies associated with it. She is also the faster of the two, possessing natural foot speed.

Johnson on the other hand, could run forever. Barth explained her best distances will be far longer than she’s running right now, as he sees her blossoming into a 10,000-meter, half or full marathon runner in her future.

“Their motivation and dedication is top notch,” Barth said.

Noe said she is so grateful to have a training partner and friend like Johnson who is able to tap into the areas of her running where she needs the most work.

“I don’t think I’d be as strong of a runner as I am without her,” Noe said. “We push each other a lot, and there’s some things she’s better at, and there’s some things I’m better at, and so we really just push each other to be the best.”

Johnson and Noe came into the fall season extremely fit, both completing a time trial in sub-18 minutes for 5,000 meters for their first hard effort.

Since then, they’ve only continued to impress. Noe has taken the No. 1 spot on the team, and has finished first in all but one race. From last year, her average time is nearly 90 seconds faster.

Johnson, the No. 2 runner, has also improved leaps and bounds, averaging about 50-55 seconds faster from a year ago. It’s been an adjustment mentally for Johnson, who was the Bombers’ No. 1 runner a year ago, but has taken it in stride and enjoys the benefits of a training partner like Noe.

“I feel like I’ve had some tough races, but some days are good, some races are just not a good race,” Johnson said. “I’ve been really happy with my times because they’ve been improving.”

Noe finished first at the 3A district meet Oct. 21 at Central College in Pella, running a 5-kilometer personal-best time of 17:35.7. Johnson was right behind in second, clocking 17:49.6, also a PR.

“I had no idea I’d be running in the 18 and 17s,” Noe said. “But I kept working hard and I really just wanted to see myself improve from last year, and once I saw that I could do that, one of my goals was to get into the 17s, so I was really proud of that.”

Barth said the pair, while still young, have the respect of their teammates, leading by example. He said seniors Caitlin Maher and Josie Fleischmann have been strong leaders for the group and kept everyone on an even keel. It’s been a good mixture for a program that has managed to find a lot of success during this uncertain and unprecedented year, as they look to make history Friday.

“It’s been a really good season,” Johnson said. “My teammates are really encouraging and it makes the season fun. I’m really excited to see the results (Friday). The goal is just to win the meet as a team and do really good as individuals.”