Bunnell PRs at state meet in Fort Dodge

FORT DODGE – Central Lee’s Aubree Bunnell had a special guest along with her at Friday’s state cross-country meet in Fort Dodge.
The sophomore ran in her first-ever state meet in the 2A Girls' run at 10:30 a.m. at Lakeside Municipal Golf Course and finished with a personal best 20:52.4, good enough for 42nd out of 136 runners.
Also at the finish line was her great uncle Paul Bunnell who won the boys' state title for Central Lee in 1984. The 1985 Hawk graduate was also announced as a Hawk Athletic Hall of Fame inductee in the Class of 2025.
Bunnell said it was fun having her great uncle with her at the race.
“It's really fun, but scary at the same time,” she laughed saying it was bit intimidating knowing he had won a championship.
Paul said his advice was to go out and have fun.
“She’s athletic and got that determination,” he said. “I gave her some pointers, and talk with her a little, but we really don’t work out together. But she has a lot of potential. She’s a strong runner. She fights and is determined like I was. There’s some technique stuff she can pick up on. She’s still young and learning stride-wise.”
He said he did share some strategies about it being a different course, but just enjoyed watching her compete
“I think she did well. I told her to go out and have fun with it.  The last mile the family texted me that she was at 49 and when I caught up to her at the two mile and three mile marks she had picked off some people.”
Aubree Bunnell said she prefers to run in circles on a track so the course in Fort Dodge was a little intimidating out of the gate, but she settled in and then concentrated on working on the runners in front of her.
The Lady Hawk was almost in a full sprint down the chute for the final 150 meters. She said that hasn’t been typical of her approach to the 5K runs.

“Not usually, but I think I had a lot of adrenaline left at the end,” she said.
Several trainers assisted her out of the finish area and then family helped her to a bench where she slumped to the ground to recover.
“It was a really nice race. It’s not my favorite set up. I like laps so doing the long drawn out was different, but I enjoyed it. I was anxious at first, but once we got out and going, it was nice,” she said.
“My goal was just to come out and PR for the first time at state. I was really just trying to find my pace and take my normal start.”
Central Lee Head Coach Holly Weber said Bunnell’s effort was "amazing" and says a lot about the growth of the program.
“She had a goal to show up and do her personal best here. She did that and, to get a PR with all the nerves and all the extra people, is amazing,” Weber said.
“Just watching her, she’s been going out fast her first mile the last two or three races and PR’d. But today she got out a little slower with all that congestion in that pack.
I didn’t know if she’d maintain it or if she’d drop off. But she held on and got the PR she wanted, which was perfect.
“I just keep thinking where we’ve come from in four years. From two girls on a starting line and no team to having a girl at state. We’re definitely building the right thing. Kids are getting excited and the team is getting excited to push next year.”
Albia's Mckenna Montgomery won the 2A girls' event with a time of  18:20.7, the sixth fastest in history. West Burlington/Notre Dame's Hannah Ritter was 39th finishing at 20.47.5.
Fort Madison's Avery Rump, Riley Tripp, and Hunter Weigand were set to run in the Class 3A afternoon session.