2022 Hillcrest Invitational Race Day Preview

Hidden Gem

We began competing at Hillcrest in 2019. We were unsure what to expect when we chose to attend. We found a lovely course in a unique setting that captured the hearts of the kids and coaching staff. The cross country course is on the campus of Hillcrest Academy (formerly Iowa Mennonite.) It includes a tour through the woods and around their campus. Since it is a three-loop course, the fans get ample opportunity to cheer on the athletes. We hope you will take the time to swing by and cheer on the mighty Dutch runners.

Probable Line Up

Girls Varsity – Blink, Boonstra, Ferebee, Neumann, Snieder, Schroeder, Trine
Boys Varsity – K Browne, Dunham, Lauman, Neumann, Schuknecht, VanderWaal, VandeVoort
Girls JV – All available healthy girl athletes
Boys JV – All available healthy boy athletes

New Teams, New Challenges

This race provides some new competition that we don’t ordinarily see. Washington boys and girls teams are rising quickly in the rankings. North Mahaska boys have had a very successful season thus far. We are excited to compete alongside these teams. As a bonus, the Junior High team will be there as well. We love cheering on the future of the Dutch cross country program.

Here are the teams competing:

Burlington (JH), English Valleys (HS), Fairfield (JH & HS), Hillcrest Academy (HS), HLV, Iowa City Regina (JH), Keota (JH & HS), Lone Tree (JH & HS) , Mid-Prairie (JH), Mount Pleasant (JH & HS), North Mahaska Community Schools (JH & HS #14 1A Boys), Pella Community (JH & HS #2 3A Boys, #1 3A Girls), Sigourney (JH & HS), Wapello (HS), Washington (JH & HS #12 3A Boys, #11 3A Girls), West Liberty (HS), Williamsburg (JH)

The Individual Race

BOYS: 3A #6 Chase Lauman – Pella; #8 Canaan Dunham – Pella; 3A #15 Nathan VanderWaal – Pella; 3A #10 Micah Rees – Washington

GIRLS: 3A #13 Marissa Ferebee – Pella; 3A #14 Raegan Snieder – Pella; 3A #17 Autumn Blink – Pella; 3A #15 Iris Dahl – Washington

Recent History at Hillcrest

Boys Team Results: 2021 – V 1st, JV 1st; 2020 – V. 2nd, JV 1st; 2019 – V 1st, JV 1st

Girls Team Results: 2021 – V 2nd, JV 2nd; 2020 – V. 4th, JV 4th; 2019 – V 4th, JV 4th

Boys top 10 times: 2020 Chase Lauman 17:29; Josiah Wittenberg 17:34; 2020 Nathan Vander Waal 17:36; 2019 Tony Schmitz 17:52; 2020 Josiah Wittenberg 17:55; 2020 Cutler Turner 17:57; 2019 Cutler Turner 17:58; 2019 Thomas Gaul 18:04; 2019 Mason Johnston 18:19; 2021 Cutler Turner 18:19

Girls top 10 times: 2019 Caroline McMartin 20:14; 2020 Jacie Trine 21:00; 2020 Autumn Blink 21:33; 2020 Abby Cutler 21:52; 2021 Jacie Trine 21:55; 2019 Tirzah Wittenberg 22:14; 2019 Ashley Blommers 22:19; 2020 Macy Schroeder 22:21; 2021 Sophia Boonstra 22:23; 2020 Ashley Blommers 22:26

Up Next

Championship season begins! Conference Championships will land us at Dallas Center-Grimes! Little Hawkeye conference is once again loaded with talent. On the boys side, #2 4A Norwalk, #2 3A Pella Dutch, #10 2A Pella Christian will highlight a strong field. On the girls side, the race will feature #15 4A Indianola & #1 3A Pella. Other teams will include Grinnell, Newton, and Oskaloosa. This race also features several ranked individuals on the boys side including: 3A #6 Chase Lauman – Pella, #8 Canaan Dunham – Pella, #15 Nathan VanderWaal – Pella, #24 Jonas Conner – Grinnell; 2A #17 Kaden Van Wyngarden. The girls race will feature 3A #13 Marissa Ferebee – Pella, #14 Raegan Snieder – Pella, #17 Autumn Blink. The race will be held on the Dallas Center-Grimes Burnett Complex.