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MUSCATINE, Iowa – It’s amazing what being able to breathe well can do for you.

Muscatine senior Dixie Cruz had her best finish and time of the season, and it couldn’t have come at a better time in helping the Muskies finish fifth at Thursday’s Mississippi Athletic Conference meet.

“I can breathe – the weather helped a lot,” Cruz said after crossing the finish line in 16 minutes, 43 seconds. “It was my senior year and I wanted to go out strong.

“I just couldn’t breathe good to start the season. It started out bad, but it’s getting better.”

Muscatine scored 151 points for its finish. Pleasant Valley edged Bettendorf for the MAC team title 38-39, and Burlington’s Mackenzie Eland passed Anna Peer of Bettendorf just before the finish line to win the individual title.

The meet was run in a misty rain and the course became increasingly muddy with each race, leaving spots treacherous to run in.

The Muskies’ top runner, sophomore Lindsay Brunson, said she saw some runners fall in slick and muddy spots.

“The team, we did well,” Brunson said. “This was a big conference meet. It was really muddy and a lot of girls fell. I saw a girl right in front of me do a face plant,” Brunson said. “But they were good about getting up and getting back at it.

“I didn’t (fall). I did pretty good. Coach (Tim Armstrong) gave us tips before the race to stay to the left and it helped. I ran a smart race, controlled my body and ran well.”

Brunson finished just outside of an all-conference selection, finishing 16th in 16:24. Cruz was close behind in 21st.

“I felt happy,” Cruz said. “I loved running this one.”

Armstrong said that this was Cruz’s best effort this season.

“This was by far Dixie’s best time,” Armstrong said. “She’s capable of running that time. As a sophomore, she was consistently running it. I think we all improved a lot of our times from last week, including Sam Kistler, Rachel LoBianco and Staci Everysmeyer.

“Dixie’s finish helped our team place. Two of the top 10 teams in the state in PV and Bettendorf were here, and I think it motivated us to run better.”

Now, Armstrong is hoping his team’s finish will motivate them in the district race next week at Burlington.

“We’ll see the same teams minus Assumption and add Iowa City West,” Armstrong said. “The girls saw what we are capable of. Hopefully, it will carry over to next week.”

Muscatine’s freshman-sophomore team finished third with three medalists – Alex Chamberlain, Yolanda Taylor and Desi Darting. The Muskie JV placed fourth with Megan Shoppa the lone medalist.

Mississippi Athletic Conference

Varsity Girls Team Results

1. Pleasant Valley 38; 2. Bettendorf 39; 3. Burlington 107; 4. Davenport Assumption 125; 5. Muscatine 151; 6. Davenport West 160; 7. North Scott 173; 8. Davenport Central 217; 9. Clinton 222; 10. Davenport North 258.

Top 14 (medalists) – 1. Mackenzie Eland (Bur) 15:16; 2. Anna Peer (Bett) 15:16; 3. Anne Martin (PV) 15:27; 4. Grace Shemwell (Clin) 15:32; 5. Mahnee Watts (Bett) 15:35; 6. Kate Benge (PV) 15:46; 7. Brooke Bierhaus (PV) 15:53; 8. Dana Ewan (Bett) 16:06; 9. Becca Wilder (DC) 16:06; 10. Ali Oppel (PV) 16:13; 11. Megan Nickels (Bett) 16:21; 12. Laura Thomsen (PV) 16:17; 13. Solveig Entwistle (Bett) 16:21; 14. Kayla Naber (NS) 16:24.

Muscatine (151) – 16. Lindsay Brunson 16:24; 2. 21. Dixie Cruz 16:43; 31. Sam Kistler 17:16; 40. Staci Eversmeyer 17:27; 43. Rachel LoBianco 17:38; 52. Megan Sweere 18:14; 55. Hannah Peck 18:30.

JV Girls Team Results

1. Pleasant Valley 19; 2. Bettendorf 61; 3. North Scott 112; 4. Muscatine 112; 5. Davenport Assumption 120; 6. Davenport West 143; 7. Davenport Central 169.

Muscatine (112) – 14. Megan Shoppa 18:54; 17. Jess Coder 19:08; 22. Maggie LoBianco 19:41; 28. Natalie White 20:01; 31. KellieAnn Burton 20:11; 40. Mackenzie Bisby 21:39; 41. Caitlin York 21:49.

Fresh-Soph Girls Team Results

1. Bettendorf 28; 2. Pleasant Valley 38; 3. Muscatine 98; 4. North Scott 92; 5. Davenport West 113.

Muscatine (98) – 9. Alex Chamberlain 18:03; 13. Yolanda Taylor 18:26; 14. Desi Darting 18:30; 25. Marci Paca 20:38; 29. Natalie Fillmore 22:14; 30. Hailey Oepping 22:48.