Maxwell Deeter signs to run with Mount Mercy Mustangs

By John Burbridge
sports@charlescitypress.com
CHARLES CITY — People have been implored to stay at home in order to quell this pandemic.

But Maxwell Deeter is going places, Cedar Rapids and beyond — or at least that’s his destination(s) when this finally passes.

In a time when television and radio hosts and personalities are broadcasting from their own homes, Deeter recently signed his letter-of-intent to run for the Mount Mercy University cross country and track programs in the comfort of his family’s dining room.

It likely assures Deeter’s athletic career, which may prematurely end at the prep level, will be continuing at the collegiate level.

Currently, his final track season with the Charles City Comets is on hold. The most positive forecast has the season re-starting in early May.

“If they do start it again, I hope they extend the season for time lost,” Deeter said.

In the event the rest of the season gets cancelled, Deeter and the Comets at least got one meet in this season — the Wartburg College High School Indoor Invitational held in February.

In a meet that featured some of the top programs in the state, Deeter with teammates Zach Graeser, Malcolm Lopez and Aaron Jensen placed 10th in the 4-by-400 relay with a time of 3 minutes, 50.44 seconds.

That’s about 20 seconds behind the Comets’ best 4-by-400 time from last season which helped the foursome of Ian Collins, Nick Litterer, Colton Slinger and Maxwell’s brother Mason Deeter get down to the State Track and Field Championships.

A varsity cross country runner who has also won several local road races, Deeter feels that hits his stride the best in the middle distances — i.e. the 400- and 800-meter runs.

“The 400 is probably my best, but I like trying different distances,” Deeter said.
Like many spring athletes trying to stay in shape, Deeter is trying to do the best he can without the resources and the hands-on coaching normally accommodated during the season.

“I go on runs whenever I can,” said Deeter, who while practicing social distancing still stays in contact with his teammates and classmates by way of social media.

Normally, Charles City holds formal college signing ceremonies for athletes at the high school whenever possible. As of now, that’s not possible though there has been talk of having one large group signing of pending college athletes if and when it’s safe to reopen the school.

Deeter plans to major in marketing.

Deeter’s brother, Mason, has already continued his cross country and track careers at North Iowa Area Community College.

“But his season is over and he’s back at home, too,” Deeter said.

Good place to be for the time being.