Montezuma Cross Country keeps on running, placing high

   The Montezuma Cross Country team ran a familiar course with an unfamiliar name on Monday, Oct. 7. Running at the former Iowa Mennonite School in Kalona, the renamed Hillcrest Academy school grounds were the host site for a full slate of cross country competition. With 22 schools in attendance between high school and junior high, the level of competition between 1A-3A schools was high. 
   The junior high runners started things off with the girls team taking 6th place and the boys team finishing 9th. Carter McKee was the sole medalist in a large field with a 7th place finish. 
   The high school girls team battled against the top ranked teams in 2A and 3A as well, not to mention highly ranked 1A competition as they faced teams such as Mid Prairie, Williamsburg, Solon, Pella, Mount Pleasant and Iowa City Regina, as well as a tough Danville New London team that got the best of them by a few points last week. Despite the competition level, the girls held their own, finishing in 8th place, three spots higher than last year.
   The high school boys individuals also battled hard against a tough field of state-caliber runners. Brydon Henning finished 39th overall but was back under the 20-minute mark for another consecutive meet with teammate Brayden Stockman finishing shortly after.
   The Montezuma Cross Country teams will take the home course at the Montezuma Country Club on Thursday with a K-6 grade fun run starting at 4:15, junior high races at 4:30, and high school races to follow.