[Pocahontas, Iowa] – The Southeast Valley Middle School Cross Country team put forth a stellar performance at the Pocahontas Invitational held on Saturday, October 2. Runners from twelve area schools gathered to compete, showcasing their hard work and continual improvement. The Southeast Valley Middle School boys' team finished strong, securing a first-place team finish.

Leading the charge for the boys were eighth-grader, August Akins, who finished in 4th place with a time of 13:14, seventh-grader, Griffin Vote, who finished in 7th place with a time of 13:41, and eighth-grader, Kasen Loeffler, who finished in 11th with a time of 13:49. “The first mile was easy because it was flat and there was only one hill to slow me down,” said Loeffler. “It was also easy to keep my pace because there weren’t many sharp turns. During the last half mile,” Loeffler continued, “I could feel someone coming up behind me so it motivated me to keep going and not let them by me. I also could tell I was going to get a PR. It felt so good to find out I had shaved 31 seconds off my last time.” 

Dallas Brandel, a seventh-grader, was able to run his first race Saturday. “My teammates were really encouraging, but I was pretty tired,” Brandel exclaimed.

Saturday was also the first race for our female runners. “I was so excited to see our female runners get to compete and shine today. I couldn’t be prouder of our three ladies. They make me smile,” said Coach Peterson. For the girls, eighth-grade sensation Goldie Davis was a standout, crossing the finish line in 4th place with a time of 14:48. “I was going to take it slower at first but I knew I had more in me, so I kicked it into gear,” Davis commented. “That morning, I was so afraid and nervous to run the race, but it was over before I knew it. Definitely don’t let fear keep you from doing something in your life.”

Earning medals for placements in the top 20 at the Pocahontas Invitational were: Goldie Davis, August Akins, Griffin Vote, Kasen Loeffler, and Boe Davis.

Finishing times and places are as follows:

Male Runners

Finishing Time

Place Out of 63

August Akins

13:14

4

Griffin Vote

13:41

7

Kasen Loeffler

13:49

11

Boe Davis

14:10

16

Jackson Bintz

14:30

21

Andrew Wanat

14:37

22

Ethan Martin

14:49

24

Jaxon Wilson

15:03

25

Grant Peterson

15:55

38

Brock Peterson

15:57

39

Turner Ahlers

16:08

44

Jace Skoglund

16:38

46

Xavier Cunigan

18:10

53

Joseph Ennenga

18:11

55

Mason Newell

18:39

58

Max Judson

18:40

59

Dominik Paterson

20:03

60

Dallas Brandel

21:05

61

Female Runners

Finishing Time

Place Out of 51

Goldie Davis

14:48

4

Aleeyah Hoefer

16:44

27

Jaylie Slinker

17:31

36

The atmosphere was filled with cheers and encouragement, creating a sense of camaraderie among competitors. Coach Lee and Coach Peterson were proud of the whole team’s performance. “It’s great to see their hard work paying off on this tough course. Today was a great opportunity for them to have fun and learn,” Lee noted. Seventh-grader Jace Skoglund was happy to provide some of his lessons learned. “When I run at the meets, I’ve learned to focus on my pacing and keep my breathing steady,” said Skoglund. 

As the season progresses, the Jags cross country team is gearing up for their next challenge at the Lake City meet on Tuesday, October 8, where they hope to build on their recent successes. With their determination and teamwork, the future looks bright for these young athletes.

For more updates on the team’s journey, follow Southeast Valley Middle School Cross Country on the school’s social media sites.