Rockford’s LaCoste wins Class 1A state qualifying meet

Staff Report

CEDAR FALLS — It was a close race, but Rockford cross country coach Andy Roth knew who was going to win it.

“I knew when she was about done with the first loop and saw the look on her face that she was going to win it,” Roth said of Warrior junior Sheridan LaCoste, who was battling neck-and-neck with Hudson freshman Jenna Twait in the Girls Class 1A State Qualifier Meet, Thursday at Birdsall Park.

In the end, LaCoste edged Twait by 2 seconds (20:16-2:18) for the District (SQ) title.

“Sheridan had been preparing for this race since track ended,” Roth said. “She knew she wanted to go to state and her medal count this season showed how much work she put in.”

Rockford junior Katie Hirv placed 29th (22:17).

Central Elkader won the meet (56 team points). Hudson (76) and Denver (95) also qualified as teams.

Rockford didn’t field enough runners for a team placing. Nashua-Plainfield, led by freshman Faith Carpenter’s 31st-place time of 22:42.

In the boys race, Hudson won the the meet (76) ahead of fellow said qualifier Denver (85) and Starmont (89).

Curren Matthias of Denver was the individual champion with a time of 17:04

North Butler, paced by sophomore Tate Menne’s 39th-place time of 19:30, placed sixth as a team.

Nashua-Plainfield, led by junior Brock Dietz’s near-qualifying 17th-place time of 18:10, placed 12th as a team.