IOWA STATE MEET

Johnson, Noe Record Fastest Times In All Classes To Lead Ballard Girls To 3A Title

By Mary Albl of DyeStat 

It was a familiar scene Friday afternoon at the 3A Iowa High School Cross Country Championships. Like they’ve done all season, Ballard High School sophomores Shewaye Johnson and Paityn Noe dominated the 5,000-meter race at Lakeside Municipal Golf Course in Fort Dodge, finishing 1-2 and guiding Ballard to a second straight state title. In the process, they also became the first two teammates in 3A girls history to finish first and second in addition to leading their team to a state title in the same season. 

“Winning back-to-back championships is a tremendous accomplishment for us,” Ballard head coach Scott Barth said. “I think we all agree that the pressure of being a defending state championship team adds quite a bit of pressure to the meet. Having that clearly marked target can be stressful, but the maturity on our team is unparalleled. Paityn and Shewaye provided us with a best-in-the-state 1-2 punch for the entire season.” 

FEATURE - Paityn Noe And Shewaye Johnson Give Ballard A Knockout 1-2 Punch

Johnson clocked the fastest time among all classes, running 17:55.3, while Noe was runner-up in 18:01.1. The next fastest runner in the 3A race was nearly 45 seconds behind Noe. Both Johnson and Noe improved their time from a year ago, running 45 seconds quicker.

“It was a great day to run and a great day to be a Bomber,” Barth said. “Shewaye Johnson and Paityn Noe did not disappoint in their state meet battle placing first and second overall. That ranks them No. 1 and No. 2 in All-Time State Meet history in Class 3A and No. 5 and No. 7 in state meet history regardless of class,” Barth said. “That is impressive.”

Adel-Desoto-Minburn senior Nate Mueller repeated as the boys 3A state winner, crossing the tape in 15:28.7 for the fastest time of the day. Dallas Center-Grimes repeated as state team champions with 87 points.

The Johnston girls repeated as 4A champions with 64 points, placing four runners in the top 20. Individually, Dubuque Hempstead freshman Keelee Leitzen won the race in an impressive time of 18:08. She is the first runner from either of Dubuque's public schools, Hempstead or Senior, to claim state gold, according to the telegraphherald.com. 

In the boys 4A action, senior Jaysen Bouwers led Sioux City North to a team title, taking down defending champion Dowling Catholic, 75-83. Bouwers was first in 15:31.2. Teammate Will Lohr was fourth (16:00.2). 

On Saturday, the Mid-Prairie girls ran to their fourth straight 2A title, scoring 45 points. With the graduation of Marie Hosteler, little sister Danielle, a freshman, filled in the No. 1 spot with ease, winning the individual title in 19:08.9. 

The boys 2A team tite was claimed by Danville/New London with 64 points, going 2-3. Tipton senior Caleb Shumaker one his first individual title in 16:13.2. 

After finishing runner-up a year ago, the Hudson girls edged out South Winneshiek of Calmar, 128-130 to win the 1A state team title. Lansing Kee junior Haley Meyer, the 2019 runner-up, finished first in 19:11.3.

The Madrid boys defended their 1A title, scoring 58 points as senior Clay Pehlled led the way with a second-place finish in 16:21.4. Bellevue senior Brady Griebel won the individual title in 15:52.2. 

State Champions  

Class 4A: Sioux City, North boys 75 points; Johnston girls 64 points - RESULTS

Class 3A: Dallas Center-Grimes boys 87 points; Ballard girls 66 points - RESULTS

Class 2A: Danville/New London boys 64 points; Mid-Prairie girls 45 points - RESULTS

Class 1A: Madrid boys 74 points;  Hudson girls 128 points - RESULTS