Johnson successfully defends Kirk Schmaltz Invite title
Trending
AMES -- The Marshalltown boys' cross country team got a heavy dose of competition on Thursday, but it still wasn't enough for Preston Johnson.
Marshalltown's senior standout scored his second win in as many meets this season with a comfortable time of 16 minutes, 13.1 seconds, at Thursday's 58th annual Kirk Schmaltz Invitational hosted by Ames at the Iowa State University Cross Country Course.
Johnson had a 14-second cushion on the rest of the 132-runner field as Mason City's Henry Hansen claimed second in 16:27.6.
Ten of the 19 teams to line up in the starting grid were ranked in Monday's most recent edition by the Iowa Association of Track Coaches, with Class 4A No. 3 Dallas Center-Grimes leading the way on Thursday. The Mustangs totaled just 65 points to pace fourth-ranked Waukee (98), No. 16 Ankeny (148), No. 14 Waukee Northwest (154) and No. 12 Ankeny Centennial (179) in the final team standings.
Marshalltown was 14th with 373 points, propeled by Johnson's second consecutive win in the Kirk Schmaltz Invite. Johnson won last year's race in 14:55, but Thursday's suffocating heat made it difficult for distance running.
Michael Downs, a junior, was next across the finish line for the Bobcats, taking 67th in 18:25.6. Costin Piscitelli claimed 87th in 18:57.6, while Thomas Stanley (105th, 19:45.4) and Connor Faas (113th, 20:54.0) completed the team scoring.
Elliot Kodis (121st, 22:56.7) and Kaleb Carter (124th, 23:41.6) also competed for MHS.
On the girls' side, Marshalltown was last out of 15 scoring teams with 411 points. Top-ranked Ankeny Centennial tallied 57 points for first place, followed by second-ranked Waukee Northwest (80), 3A No. 2 Des Moines Christian (107), 4A No. 9 Waukee (127) and No. 8 Norwalk (137). Nine of the 16 girls teams in attendance were ranked as well.
The Bobcats were again led by freshman Lillian Heil, who placed 59th in 23:18.9. Sophomore Grace Whitmore was 10th in 23:26.4, and freshman Naysa Rottink notched 86th in 24:54.9.
Betsy Wirin (26:46.5), Mattea Wright (27:00.8), Mallory Meyeraan (27:04.4) and Lily Johnson (27:11.8) all finished consecutively from 101-104 for MHS.
Marshalltown takes a week off before returning home for the Bobcat Invite on Thursday, Sept. 10, at the Marshalltown Community College course. There will be 22 girls teams and 27 boys teams in attendance for the meet, which begins with middle school races at 3:45 p.m.