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Photo from Central Invitational 9-7-19

Ballard took first place for the girls and Norwalk took first place for the boys in the Knoxville Cross Country Invitational on Tuesday. Running in cool conditions, the Warriors boys had two of the top three finishers and edged out Ankeny Centennial by just three points. Pella Christian was the highest finishing local squad in eighth place overall led by Kaden Van Wyngarden in 31st place with a time 19:01. Knoxville was ninth the team standings led by the 23rd place finish of Seth Walraven. He along with teammate Max Purvis, who crossed the finish line in 41st say the pace was tough to keep up with as the race wore on.

Walraven:
“Overall I think we did pretty decently. I think we got out a little faster than we should have in the first mile, it kind of affected our time but I think we did pretty good overall.”

Purvis:
“Definitely did better than last year. Like he said I got out a little faster than what I should have, but I was able to hold it and do pretty good.”

Indianola was 11th led over the line by Freshman Sam Ross in 53rd place in a time of 20:07. The PCM boys were 12th led by Caden Bouwkamp in 68th place in a time of 20:47. On the girls side, Ballard had the first two runners cross the finish line and outdistanced Ankeny Centennial by 35 points to win the meet. Knoxville had the top local team in seventh with 228 points led over the line by Norah Pearson in a time of 20:12 in 6th place. PCM was eighth with Tiffani Koonce leading the way for the Mustangs in 34th with a time of 22:15. Twin Cedars was ninth with Rylee Dunkin coming home in ninth with a time of 20:46. Dunkin, along with teammate Cheyenne Bruns who placed 25th told KRLS Sports it could have been better, but the competition brought out the best in both of them.

Dunkin:
“I didn’t run quite as good as I wanted to, but this is why I run at these events to get better and to challenge myself.”

Bruns:
“I feel so much better this year than I did last year, and I’m using my stride more and getting more confidence and wanting to win more.”

Melcher-Dallas runner J’Lyn Knutson, still battling a cold, placed 31st in 22:11. She told KNIA Sports as her health improves she is confident she will get back to her normal form.

Knutson:
“It felt alright. I had an upset stomach at first, but I pushed through it and I was OK at the end. I just need to get over this cold and I’ll be back in competition.”

Pella Christian placed 13th overall led by Jaclyn Holmes in 27th in a time of 22:08.

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