MFL MarMac cross country runners bring a lot of potential

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The MFL MarMac cross country team includes (front, left to right) Logan Ross, Tucker Ruff, Jacob Schellhorn, Payton Schultz; (back) Taryn Moser, Mariah Moser, Lauryn Sandstrom, Samantha Ruff, Charlotte Meyer, Evelyn Ruff, Cora Keehner, Brooke Donlon, Emma Driscoll, Skylar Fisk and Kennedy Bachman. Not pictured is Emma Koether. (Photo by Audrey Posten)

By Audrey Posten, Times-Register

 

Head coach Eric Koenig is excited about the potential of the 2024 MFL MarMac cross country team. Some talented new runners join a group that already includes two state qualifiers and multiple all-conference medalists.

 

Leading the boys is senior Jacob Schellhorn, a three-time state qualifier and two-time Upper Iowa Conference champion, who enters the season ranked 12th in Class 2A. 

 

Koenig foresees Schellhorn atop the UIC for the third straight year and back to state for the fourth.

 

“I think the way he’s been running, just the last three days, clearly shows he’s been doing some work in the summer. He ran around 18 [minutes] the other night already,” Koenig said. “He looks stronger. I know he’s been in the weight room working on that. And his speed is a little bit better.”

 

Fellow senior Tucker Ruff, an all-conference runner a season ago, is back as well. 

 

“I know his goal is to beat where he’s been the last few years. I think he’ll have a really good conference meet,” Koenig predicted.

 

Senior Logan Ross and freshman Payton Schultz round out the boys squad.

 

On the girls side, the Bulldogs are bursting with depth and experience. Junior Cora Keehner, a state qualifier as a freshman, returns with fellow all-conference runners, sophomores Skylar Fisk and Brooke Donlon. 

 

“Cora has been our best runner, and Cora looks good,” Koenig said. “Brooke, I think she can be right up there with Cora as we get through the season. Skylar ran some good times last year. She ran under 22 [minutes], or 22 flat, and if she can continue to do that, it will really help us.”

 

Senior Evelyn Ruff, who Koenig described as consistent, joins that group of runners who will vie for MFL MarMac’s top five times at meets. So will sophomore Kennedy Bachman, who’s on the cross country team for the first team, and freshmen Charlotte Meyer and Taryn Moser.

 

“[Bachman] has got the runner type to do well, and she comes from a competitive family. Taryn Moser comes from a family who runs,” Koenig said. 

 

From what he’s seen in practice so far, Meyer could be right up there with Keehner.

 

“Charlotte is figuring out what she can do. I want to get her in a meet, get her feeling comfortable running,” he said.

 

That’s the case for a lot of younger runners, who are adjusting from the shorter middle school course to the three-mile high school races.

 

“It’s getting used to this distance,” Koenig said. “They just tend to question themselves a bit, but they can do it.”

 

With this depth, Koenig predicts MFL MarMac can turn in the best girls team scores in recent memory. Maybe even a conference title.

 

“South Winn will be tough. Outside that, we’re top three for sure. Maybe we can pull out a conference win, especially if the girls keep working,” he said.

 

It isn’t just this talent that has Koenig excited, though. It’s the team camaraderie and love for the sport.

 

Recently asked what they like about cross country, some athletes cited the environment.

 

“It’s their place away from everything else. Everybody has to run those three miles, and everybody is always really supportive of each other,” Koenig said. 

 

Coaching for around a decade, he said he’s built a reputation for tough practices. 

 

“There are days where, gosh, is anybody going to come back tomorrow,” he wondered. “But not only do they come back, they come back next season.”

 

The Aug. 27 season opening race at Ed-Co was canceled due to heat. The Bulldogs will be in action next on Thursday, Sept. 5, for the home meet at Tri City Golf Course in Luana.

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