Schellhorn earns fourth trip to state
MFL MarMac senior Jacob Schellhorn placed sixth at the Class 2A cross country state qualifying meet in Oelwein, punching his fourth ticket to Fort Dodge. (Photos by Audrey Posten)
The girls state qualifying race featured seven Bulldog runners, seen here bursting off the start line. MFL MarMac placed seventh as a team.
By Audrey Posten | Times-Register
MFL MarMac senior Jacob Schellhorn has achieved a rare high school sports feat: qualifying for state all four years.
Schellhorn placed sixth at the Class 2A cross country state qualifying meet in Oelwein on Oct. 24, to punch his fourth ticket to Fort Dodge.
“Four years ago, I wouldn’t have thought that four years in a row I was going to make it. It’s cool,” he said.
Schellhorn turned in a time of 17:23.04, edging past Jesup’s Nathan Pint just ahead of the finish line. Conall Sauser of Oelwein won the race with a time of 16:40.80.
“It was a good race,” Schellhorn said. “We’ve never run here, but in the past it’s been known for really fast. I knew, coming into it, that was probably going to benefit me. It did.”
He said the key was getting toward the front at the start of the race.
“I knew, if I didn’t get out, then we probably wouldn’t be having this conversation. I had to get out, and I did,” Schellhorn shared.
The cross country veteran admitted he was nervous heading into the race—a rare occurrence.
“I didn’t want to look past this. I knew this was all I’ve got, so I have to go out for it,” he said. “I knew 2A was fast times. Just get this done here today and we can figure it out.
Now, he feels a sense of relief.
“I’m ready for today to be over with and move past it,” Schellhorn said.
A fourth trip to state is simply “the gravy on top” of a successful athletic career.
“I’m soaking it all in now, the last year,” he reflected.
Schellhorn will run at state—at Kennedy Park in Fort Dodge—on Saturday, Nov. 2. The Class 2A boys race starts at 2:45 p.m.
Other results
In addition to Schellhorn, two other MFL MarMac boys competed in the state qualifying meet. Senior Logan Ross crossed the line in 25:50.19 to place 87th, and teammate Payton Schultz, a freshman, was right behind him in 88th.
The girls race featured seven Bulldog runners. Sophomore Brooke Donlon turned in the top finish, earning 23rd with a time of 22:09.86. Freshman Charlotte Meyer and junior Cora Keehner placed a respective 33rd and 34th with times of 22:43.72 and 22:51.06. Senior Evelyn Ruff followed in 48th after running a 23:39.30, while Skylar Fisk put up a 23:46.61 for 54th place. Freshman Taryn Moser landed in 58th with a time of 24:01.29, followed by sophomore Kennedy Bachman in 59th with a 24:05.74.
MFL MarMac placed seventh as a team with a score of 187. A 58 put Sumner-Fredericksburg in the top spot.
