T-R PHOTO BY JONATHAN MEYER - Meskwaki freshman Bree Scabbyrobe, pictured during a recent practice run, is just the second Warrior to qualify for the state cross country meet. Scabbyrobe is the youngest to achieve that milestone, following in the footsteps set by then-junior Shye Johnson in 2020.

For Meskwaki freshman Bree Scabbyrobe, the finish line came with tears, disbelief, and the biggest milestone of her young running career — a ticket to the state cross country meet.

Scabbyrobe became just the second runner in Meskwaki Settlement School history to qualify for the Iowa High School State Cross Country Championships, earning the final individual spot last Thursday at the Class 1A District 7 qualifier at Jewell Golf and Country Club. Her time of 20 minutes, 59.4 seconds, placed her 10th overall — 14 seconds ahead of the next finisher, sealing a moment her coach called “a story worth remembering.”

“She gave everything she had to get through it,” said head coach Tracy Sienknecht, now in her 17th year leading the program. “You could see her growth with every race — her pace, her finish, her confidence. Everything was falling into place at the right time.”

For Scabbyrobe, that growth started years before high school. A two-time all-conference runner in middle school, she said her passion for running began early.

“I’ve always been a runner,” Scabbyrobe said. “I started when I was younger and just wanted to try cross country. I ended up liking it, and in eighth grade it got more serious.”

The change in distance while entering high school (going from two miles to 5K) was a big adjustment. Meskwaki opened the season on the hilly Eldora course, a tough debut for a freshman still adjusting to the longer distance. But as the season went on, Scabbyrobe found her rhythm.

“When she started feeling the pace of other runners, she figured out what worked for her,” Sienknecht said. “You could see her times dropping and her finishes getting stronger.”

Meskwaki’s small but tight-knit cross country team rallied around each other throughout the fall. Many athletes are dual-sport participants, squeezing in quick workouts before heading to their next commitment. Sienknecht said that dynamic helped create a close, supportive environment.

“The camaraderie is what makes it special,” Sienknecht said. “There’s always somebody at the starting line, the finish line, and somewhere in between cheering you on. It’s heartwarming — and Bree has been a big part of that.”

That spirit was on full display at the district meet. Scabbyrobe held her position through the rolling, zigzagging course, often matching strides with St. Edmond’s Grace Schlegel before pulling ahead late. When Scabbyrobe crossed the finish line, she wasn’t sure where she stood.

“I was scared because I didn’t know if I’d made it,” Scabbyrobe said. “Then I started crying. I was just excited.”

Both her coach and assistant coach were stationed throughout the course, calling out her place and urging her to hold her spot. “She knew what she had to do, and she did it,” Sienknecht said.

The achievement connects Scabbyrobe with a piece of Meskwaki running history. She follows in the footsteps of Shye Johnson, who became the school’s first-ever state qualifier in 2020. Johnson now runs collegiately at Minnesota State, and Sienknecht said she sees a similar spark in her newest qualifier.

“Bree’s carrying on that legacy,” she said. “Once success starts to be noticed, it inspires more success. It’s amazing to see that continuation.”

For now, the focus turns to Lakeside Municipal Golf Course in Fort Dodge, where Scabbyrobe will compete among Iowa’s best on Saturday.

“I just want to try my best,” she said with a grin. “And build from it.”

With three more years ahead, Scabbyrobe’s journey is only beginning — but she already knows what it feels like to make history.