The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union’s board a directors has approved the charging of spectators at the state cross country meet, an event that has historically been free.
If the IHSAA approves it as well, it will mean a $10-per-vehicle fee at Fort Dodge’s Kennedy Park.

Benton Community High School girls track and field and boys and girls cross country head coach Marty Thomae has been named the Wartburg College athletic department’s 2009 Alumni Coach of the Year.
Thomae has guided the Bobcats to seven top three finishes at the girls state track and field meet including state championships in 1997, 2007 and 2008 and three state cross country championships in girls competition (1998, 1999 and 2000). His girls’ track teams have claimed seven WaMac conference titles, while his girls cross country teams’ have done so 12 …

FORT DODGE — Bill Spencer had no intention of running away from the competition.
“My strategy was to pull away with 800 meters left,” said the junior from Iowa Mennonite. “But nobody else was going fast enough, so I took off.”
Spencer left the pack behind a mile into the race and comfortably won the Class 1A boys’ championship at the state cross country meet Saturday at Lakeside Golf Course.
“A little after a mile, I felt great,” he said. “I took (the lead) and just kept going.”
That propelled IMS to the team …

FORT DODGE — The Union Knights felt no heat to three-peat.
“There was no pressure on us,” said Ashley Frush. “The pressure was on the other teams to beat us.”
It didn’t happen. Almost, but not quite.
Union captured its third consecutive Class 2A girls’ championship at the state cross country meet Saturday at Lakeside Golf Course.
The Knights edged 2008 1A champion Pekin by a 57-60 margin.
“I knew it was close. I didn’t think we had it,” said Union Coach Andy McQuillen. “It’s pretty amazing. This group overachieved, overachieved and overachieved.
“I couldn’t be …

FORT DODGE — It took two years and a lot of convincing, but Moran Lonning finally realized that cross country was the fall sport for her.
“Cross country is really strong (at Decorah High School), and volleyball isn’t,” said Lonning, who had played volleyball for two years before making the switch.
“Some of the girls said, ‘Moran, you have to come out.’ My dad finally talked me into it.”
Lonning was rewarded with a second-place finish in the Class 3A girls’ race at the state meet Saturday at Lakeside Golf Course.
She was timed …

FORT DODGE — Bill Schwarz was far too elated for what-ifs.
Cedar Rapids Prairie capped a late-season surge with a runner-up finish in the Class 4A boys’ race at the state cross country meet Saturday at Lakeside Golf Course.
Burlington edged the Hawks, 106-109, for the title.
“We were hoping for a top-four finish,” Schwarz said. “I don’t think I have a what-could-have-been in me.”
The Hawks were hampered by injuries for most of the season, but entered the stretch run at full strength. They beat then-No. 1 Cedar Falls at a district meet …

TROY MILLS — Bob Mudd cares.
That’s why he drives to Cedar Rapids three times a week to volunteer as a patient visitor at St. Luke’s Hospital. To hand out magazines, crossword puzzles and lunch tickets. To interact.
“I hit every floor I can,” he said. “I really, really enjoy it. It fills a big void for me.”
And that’s why he continues to coach, even though he retired as a middle-school science teacher in 2008.
“He’s so good about knowing everybody on a personal level,” said Brandy Zumbach, a senior cross country runner …

A thumbnail sketch on the Class 1A boys’ race at the state cross country meet Saturday at Lakeside Golf Course, Fort Dodge.
Time: 2:30 p.m.
Individual race: Start with Jamie Meek of Griswold, the 2008 runner-up. Meek easily captured the Greenfield district crown (by 23 seconds). Bill Spencer of Iowa Mennonite was seventh last year and took top honors at the Wapello district in 16:46. Dane McDonald of Conrad BCLUW was third last year but was beaten at the Marshalltown district by Dike-New Hartford’s Sloan Benninga.
Team race: This could be the closest of the …

A thumbnail sketch on the Class 1A girls’ race at the state cross country meet Saturday at Lakeside Golf Course, Fort Dodge.
Time: 2 p.m.
Individual race: It looks like a duel between Audrey Griffin of Clinton Prince of Peace and Katy Moen of Wapsie Valley, who finished 2-3 in the 1A race last year. Both shone brightly in the regional meets, with Griffin winning at Wapello by 20 seconds and Moen claiming a 48-second win over Grace Moore of Mason City Newman, who finished sixth last year.
Team race: With 2008 champion Pekin in …

A thumbnail sketch on the Class 2A boys’ race at the state cross country meet Saturday at Lakeside Golf Course, Fort Dodge.
Time: 1:30 p.m.
Individual race: Many of the contenders were locked into the Sheldon district, and Garrett Ehlers of Ida Grove OA-BCIG came away with the title in 15:43, 26 seconds ahead of the field. That included Alec Baldwin of Spirit Lake, the top returning finisher (third place) from last year. Jud Schneider of Monticello appears to be the top 2A runner from Eastern Iowa; he won a district meet …