IOWA STATE MEET

Paityn Noe (16:48), Jackson Heidesch (14:56) Run To Meet Records In Fort Dodge

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

In her final state cross country race, Paityn Noe left no doubt, she’s the best. The Ballard High senior defended her 3A state title Saturday in record fashion at the Iowa State Cross Country Championships. She covered the 5,000-meter course at Lakeside Municipal Golf Course at Kennedy Park in a meet record time of 16:48.5. The previous record was 17:23.9 set in 2019. This was her first time breaking the 17-minute mark. 

Noe had run 17:09 this season, but in breaking the 17-minute barrier she became the first Iowa girl to run in the 16s on a 5,000-meter cross country course. 

As a team, Ballard finished in second place as the Pella girls (91 points) won the team title. The Pella boys made it a program sweep, claiming the team championship with with 79 points as the team's top three finished in the top 10. Lewis Central’s Ethan Eichhorn won in 15:32.43.

4A

Jackson Heidesch completed the triple crown of accomplishments Saturday.The Dowling Catholic senior won the 4A state title, breaking the course record in the process, and helped his team repeat as state champs. 

Heidesch broke the 15-minute mark on the 5K course, finishing in 14:56.6 seconds, breaking the previous record of 15:02, from 2012 by Jason Thomas of Dowling Catholic. It was Heidesch's second consecutive title. Dowling Catholic put five scorers in the top 25 to score 51 points as easily repeat as 4A champs. 

The girls race also produced a repeat winner as Dubuque Hempstead scored 60 points to defend its title. Individually, Adrienne Buettner-Cable of Des Moines Roosevelt pulled off the impressive win, crossing the line in 17:41.24. 

2A

Mid-Prairie Wellman’s Danielle Hostetler continued the family running legacy, claiming her third straight individual title, covering the 5K course in 18:41.64. She is one of just eight runners (one of which is older sister Marie) in state history to win three consecutive titles. In the team race. Mid-Prairie’s five-year title streak was stopped as Van Meter edged out Williamsburg, 111-113 for the title. 

Senior Aaron Fynaardt led Des Moines Christian to the 2A team title, winning his second straight individual title in 15:50.62. Teammate and freshman Caleb Ten Pas was runner-up in 16:06.3. 

1A 

Noelle Steines made sure she made the most of an opportunity she wasn’t sure would be available at one point this fall. The Calamus-Wheatland sophomore suffered a partially torn patellar tendon at the start of the season, leaving the idea of repeating as state champion in question. But she battled back, and during the 1A race, she held off Madison Brouwer of Sibley-Ocheyedan to defend her title in 18:39.45. Brouwer was second in 18:42.12. The team title went to Earlham with 101 points. 

In the boys 1A race, Iowa City Regina won the team championship with 102 points to deny Adair-Casey/Guthrie Center from a repeat. Regina had three runners finish in the top 35. The individual champion was Landon Bendgen of Woodbine Community finishing in 15:58.11. Last year he was 42nd. 

Team Champions 

Class 4A - Dowling Catholic boys 51 points, Dubuque Hempstead girls 60 points - RESULTS

Class 3A - Pella boys 79 points, Pella girls 91 points - RESULTS

Class 2A -  Des Moines Christian boys 75 points, Van Meter girls 111 points - RESULTS

Class 1A -  Iowa City Regina boys 102 points, Earlham girls 101 points - RESULTS