Schellhorn UIC champ for third time
MFL MarMac senior Jacob Schellhorn won his third straight Upper Iowa Conference title at the Oct. 17 meet at the Elkader Golf and Country Club. (Photos by Audrey Posten)
Charlotte Meyer crossed the line seventh and was the top Bulldog in the girls race.
Skylar Fisk (left) and Evelyn Ruff were a respective 25th and 20th in the race.
Cora Keehner placed 11th to earn all-conference honors.
Bulldogs second in girls team standings
By Audrey Posten | Times-Register
The MFL MarMac cross country team had a strong showing at the Oct. 17 Upper Iowa Conference meet in Elkader.
Senior Jacob Schellhorn was the boys champion for the third straight year.
“I knew it was going to be mental, going for three times in a row. I knew the opportunity was going to be there, and I just had to finish it,” Schellhorn said. “It feels good to get this one under the belt.”
Schellhorn finished in a time of 17:04.3, 30 seconds ahead of Central’s Gavin Holst and 32 in front of Hugh Conway from South Winneshiek and Justin Wagner from Kee. After winning the cross country opener at Tri City Golf Course in Luana, Schellhorn had struggled to finish ahead of Holst and Wagner for much of the season.
“Earlier in the year, I just couldn’t figure it out. I don’t know what it was. We were doing the same stuff. It was really frustrating because I felt like I was good to go,” Schellhorn shared.
During conversations with his parents, he wondered, “Did I hit the ceiling earlier in the year? I’m not going to be like before.”
Schellhorn felt like he turned it around in a meet at Grundy Center against tougher competition.
“It was more of a confidence booster. Just to know I could run with them was really important for my mindset. Last week, at South Winn, against the good competition again, was good,” he added.
Now, he’s ready to advance to state for the third time.
While the Bulldogs did not field a team score in last week’s boys conference race, they had two other participants running. Senior Logan Ross placed 42nd and freshman Payton Schultz was 44th.
In the girls race, MFL MarMac compiled a team score of 52 to edge North Fayette Valley for second place. South Winn won with 29.
Five Bulldogs placed within the top 20, led by Charlotte Meyer in seventh with a time of 21:59.6. Brooke Donlon crossed the line in 22:01.8, and was behind Meyer in eighth place. Cora Keehner put up a 22:41.3 for 11th, followed by Taryn Moser in 17th with a 23:04.4. Evelyn Ruff finished in 23:20.3, for 20th place. Skylar Fisk and Kennedy Bachman were a respective 25th and 26th.
MFL MarMac will compete in the Class 2A state qualifying meet at Hickory Grove Golf Course in Oelwein on Thursday, Oct. 24. Action begins at 4 p.m.
