Gilpin battles stiff winds at state X-country meet

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BY CHUCK VANDENBERG
PCC EDITOR

FORT DODGE - It was a windy morning at the Class 2A girls state cross country run Saturday morning.

But Central Lee's Amanda Gilpin said she's used to running in adverse conditions.

The senior Hawk raced to a 21:20.7 mark good enough for 38th place in her first-ever run at Lakeside Municipal Golf Course in Fort Dodge.

"I've ran in worst weather than this," Gilpin said as she waited for the field to finish the run Saturday morning.

"I did a 5K in Iowa City before and it was snowing and blowing a little bit, so this didn't bother me much."

Amanda Gilpin runs in the first half mile at the state cross country meet's 2A girls event Saturday morning. Photo by Chuck Vandenberg/PCC

Gilpin, who started in the first block on the inside of the 133 runner field, was in the top 12 after the second turn at the southeast corner of the course into the wind.

At the half way point she had slipped back into the 30 group with a slight down hill course to the northwest side. She said her focus was to keep a stay steady and then pick things up at the end.

"My goal was to keep a steady pace and not worry about all the other girls. Then just do my own thing," she said.

"I told myself when I saw the finish line I would go on a dead sprint. I did that when I got to the orange fencing and passed a couple people. That's where I kicked it in."

Gilpin approaches the finish line where she would cross in 38th place at the state cross country meet Saturday. Gilpin, a senior at Central Lee, is considering a scholarship to run at SCC. Photo by Chuck Vandenberg/PCC

Mid Prairie freshman Danielle Hostettler won the meet with a time of 19:08.9. Mid Prairie also won the team competition with a score of 45 having four of the top nine runners. Danville-New London's Addison Parrott was second with a 19:33.3.

Gilpin said she's been offered a scholarship with Southeastern Community College and is planning on taking that opportunity to continue her running career.

Holy Trinity junior Mitchell Pothitakis will run in the Boys 1A meet at 4 p.m. Saturday, the last event of the meet.

Fort Madison's Austin Miller finished 35th in the 3A boys run Friday afternoon. The Bloodhounds Will Gage finished 103rd.

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