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FORT DODGE, Iowa – Paige Wheeler knows she has a lot of work to do.

After finishing her junior season 28th at the state meet Saturday, she led her Beavers to a ninth-place finish in the Class 2A meet at Kennedy Park in Fort Dodge.

Wilton scored 224 team points for its finish. Union, the team favorite, won the title with 57 team points. The individual title went to East Central’s Morgan Casey, who crossed the finish line in 14 minutes, 53 seconds.

“It was intense,” Wheeler said of her race. “There is great competition out there.”

Wheeler crossed the finish line in 16:10.

“I was feeling fine,” Wheeler said. “It wasn’t what I hoped for. It’s going to take a lot of hard work in the off-season and during track to finish in the top 10.”

Teammates Becca Bartell (49th overall) and Mackenzie Holladay (54th overall) were next to cross the finish line for Wilton.

Holladay, a senior, said she ended strong.

“I felt tense at the beginning,” Holladay said. “I did well for my last race. I’m happy with it; I’m at a loss for words.”

Melanie Walde and Amy Hurd rounded out the team scoring for Wilton.

“I thought the team ran well,” Wheeler said. “We put a lot of hard work into the season. I’m proud of them.”

Holladay was pleased to get an opportunity to run a final time at state.

“Regardless of how we did, I’m happy that we made it here,” Holladay said. “That’s the main thing.”

The only other area female runner was in Class 1A. Wapello’s Lorin Fisher finished 55th overall in 16:41.

2009 Girls State Cross Country

Class 2A Team Results

1. Union 57; 2. Pekin 60; 3. Iowa City Regina 116; 4. Unity Christian 132; 5. Hudson 182; 6. Spirit Lake 193; 7. Cascade 194; 8. Humboldt 206; 9. Wilton 224; 10. North Polk 230; 11. Solon 236; 12. Sioux Center 239; 13. Missouri Valley 253; 14. Albia 354; 15. Centrral Springs 454.

Top 10 medalists – 1. Morgan Casey (East Central) 14:53; 2. Ashley Frush (Union) 15:17; 3. Nicole Kleinmeyer (Iowa City Regina) 15:18; 4. Jodi Miller (Sumner-Fredericksburg) 15:18; 5. Emily Franks (East Central) 15:19; 6. Brittany Frush (Union) 15:20; 7. Celsey Conger (Pekin) 15:26; 8. Katerina Althoff (Cascade) 15:29; 9. Paige Sears (Union) 15:32; 10. Becca Ellis (GLR-CL) 15:36.

Wilton (224) – 22. Paige Wheeler 16:10; 34. Becca Bartell 16:30; 39. Mackenzie Holladay 16:43; 58. Melanie Walde 17:06; 71. Amy Hurd 17:28; 73. Linsie Mairet 17:37; 92. Emily Hayes 18:37. (Note: Finishes are team places, not overall finish).

Class 1A Team Results

1. Nodaway Valley 126; 2. Dike-New Hartford 127; 3. Panorama 146; 4. Griswold 157; 5. Central Elkader 162; 6. Fort Dodge St. Edmond 172; 7. Bellevue Marquette 194; 8. Turkey Valley 202; 9. Edgewood-Colesburg 210; 10. Prairie Valley 211; 11. BCLUW 222; 12. Prince of Peace 222; 13. Grundy Center 224; 14. Galva-Holstein 258; 15. North Linn 346.

Top 10 medalists – 1. Katy Moen (Wapsie Valley) 14:52; 2. Audrey Griffin (Prince of Peace) 15:17; 3. Grace Moore (Mason City Newman) 15:34; 4. Erin Reedy (Bishop Garrigan) 15:37; 5. Jenny Kuennen (Turkey Valley) 15:37; 6. Susan Herr (Nodaway Valley) 15:38; 7. Tiffany Shepherd (Corning) 15:40; 8. Haddie Vawter (BCLUW) 15:42; 9. Alex Larsen (Tri-Center) 15:43; 10. Danielle Schweitzer (East Buchanan) 15:45.

Wapello (no team score) – 55. Lorin Fisher 16:41.