Union sophomore Brynn Albertsen makes her way down the finish line chute while leading a runner from Vinton-Shellsburg. Albertsen was the second runner to cross the finish line for the Knights, coming in at sixth with a time of 21:21.1. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

LA PORTE CITY – Knights cross country hosted the Union Invitational on the rolling hills of the La Porte City Golf Club last week Thursday afternoon with the girls team claiming a close second – just three points behind the champion, 2A No. 4 Denver – and the boys placing a solid third.

Under sunny skies and amid pleasant temperatures, nine different teams including North Tama took to the course including 84 scoring girls runners and 108 scoring boys.

“We had a lot of [personal records] and it was a perfect night to run a fast course,” Union head coach Justin Parson told the Telegraph on Friday following the meet.

One of those athletes who ran a career best was Union runner Amilia “Millie” Condon who came in second with a time of 19:33.4 just behind Nashua-Plainfield runner Kadence Huck. But as Parson explained to the Telegraph, Condon’s time could have been even faster Thursday evening.

“Millie was pacing with [Huck] when she got her feet tangled up with her. She fell and ultimately was not able to catch up. She still ran the best [cross country] time in her career.”

Union runners (from right) Brynn Albertsen, Sydney Anton, Lily Lorenzen, Emily Petersen, and Amilia Condon break out from the starting line alongside North Tama runners Gabby Seda, Ava Breakenridge, Jamie Jacobs during last Thursday’s Union Invitational held at the La Porte City Golf Club. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Condon is currently ranked No. 6 in Class 2A by the Iowa Association of Track Coaches (Week 3/Sept. 4).

In addition to Condon, Union runners Brynn Albertsen and Sydney Anton also finished in the top 10 for the girls. Sophomore Albertsen placed sixth with a time of 21.21.1 and senior Anton placed eighth with a time of 21:24.4.

Four other girls runners recored points for Union including Lily Lorenzen in 12th with a time of 21:46.1, Emily Petersen in 20th with a time of 22:42.2, Kate Carlson in 23rd with a time of 23:06.1, and freshman Katie Jackson who crossed the finish 37th with a time of 24:28.1.

The Knights girls scored 44 points – to Denver’s 41 points – for their second place finish, while Vinton-Shellsburg came in a distant third with 84 points.

Union’s boys team finished third this year – improving on their 2022 fourth place finish – with 68 points. Vinton-Shellsburg finished in second place with 34 points, while 2A No. 7 Denver claimed the championship with 32 points.

Knights cross country runner Amilia “Millie” Condon heads toward the finish line during the Union Invitational held on the grounds of La Porte City Golf Club last Thursday afternoon. Condon, currently ranked No. 6 in Class 2A, finished in second with a time of 19:33.4, a personal record, just behind Kadence Huck of Nashua-Plainfield. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Only freshman runner Cooper Davis placed in the top 10 for Union’s boys, coming in right at 10th with a time of 18:34.2.

Six other Knights runners recorded points for the boys including Sawyer Spence in 11th with a time of 18:50.8, Cameron Mullen in 13th with a time of 18:55.7, Kengo Uchiyama-Hansen in 18th with a time of 19:25.2, Mason Herman in 22nd with a time of 19:43.2, Maddux Dewinter in 44th with a time of 20:39.0, and freshman Ian Grimm who crossed the finish line in 74th place with a time of 22:45.8.

Coach Parson said he is more than happy with his runners’ results on their home turf Thursday night.

“[I’m] super pleased with both the girls’ and boys’ efforts. … Right now the girls are ranked 14th in 2A and we hope a strong performance at our home meet moves us up the rankings.”

Redhawks results

North Tama runner Jamie Jacobs, right, sprints toward the finish line just steps ahead of Union runner Emily Petersen. Jacobs crossed the finish in 19th, while Petersen came in 20th. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

The North Tama girls team is again small but mighty this season, fielding six runners including returning runner Jamie Jacobs – the team’s only senior – who crossed the finish line in 19th with a time of 22:40.2. The girls placed sixth overall with 149 team points, just behind Nashua-Plainfield’s fifth place performance with 148 points.

In addition to Jacobs, three other Redhawk runners recorded points for the girls team including sophomore Gabby Seda who finished in 33rd with a time of 24:15.2, junior Ava Breakenridge who finished in 36th place with a time of 24:26.6, and freshman Delanie Taylor who crossed the finish line in 50th place with a time of 25:07.6.

North Tama fielded just one runner in La Porte, freshman Andrew Beenken who placed 67th with a time of 22:17.1. His teammate, Case Monat was unable to compete Thursday afternoon due to injury.

UNION GIRLS (44) — 2 Amilia Condon 19:33.4; 6 Brynn Albertsen 21:21.1; 8 Sydney Anton 21:24.4; 12 Lily Lorenzen 21:46.1; 20 Emily Petersen 22:42.2; 23 Kate Carlson 23:06.1; 37 Katie Jackson 24:28.1; 54 Reagan Sorensen 26:36.1; 55 Lorolei HINEBAUGH 26:37.4; 61 Ava Mills 27:55.9; 63 Brooklyn Hubbard 28:05.5; 67 Charlie Keegan 28:30.0; 73 Ruby Parson 29:44.9; 78 Natalie Stocks 31:06.8; 80 Willa Wolff 31:57.1; 81 Ellie Keegan 32:09.4

UNION BOYS (68) — 10 Cooper Davis 18:34.2; 11 Sawyer Spence 18:50.8 -10; 13 Cameron Mullen 18:55.7; 18 Kengo UCHIYAMA-HANSEN 19:25.2; 22 Mason Herman 19:43.2; 44 Maddux Dewinter 20:39.0; 74 Ian Grimm 22:45.8; 79 Danson Moody 23:18.3; 83 Gus Kirby 23:47.2; 91 Hunter Brustkern 25:22.6

Runners from Union as well as North Tama’s lone runner, freshman Andrew Beenken take off from the starting line of the boys varsity race during last Thursday’s Union Invitational held at the La Porte City Golf Club. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

NORTH TAMA GIRLS (149) — 19. Jamie Jacobs 22:40.2; 33 Gabby Seda 24:15.2; 36 Ava Breakenridge 24:26.6; 50 Delanie Taylor 26:07.6; 59 Violet Seda 27:09.8; 60 Ava Monat 27:11.9

North Tama's Ava Breakenridge, left, runs alongside Union's Sydney Anton as the girls varsity race takes off from the start. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Knight runner Sydney Anton crosses the finish in 8th place at the 2023 Union Invitational in La Porte City. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Union's Lily Lorenzen, right, crosses the finish in 12th place just behind a runner from Denver at the 2023 Union Invitational in La Porte City. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Union's Lily Lorenzen, right, hugs her teammate, Emily Petersen after Petersen crossed the finish line last week Thursday during the Union Invitational held in La Porte City. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Lily Lorenzen is sandwiched in a hug from fellow Union runners Emily Petersen, left, and Sydney Anton, right following Petersen's finish on Sept. 7 at the La Porte City Golf Club. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Union runner Kate Carlson heads down the finish line chute during last Thursday's Union Invitational held in La Porte City. Carlson finished in 23:06.1. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Redhawk runner Gabby Seda works her way toward the finish line during the Union Invitational held last Thursday in La Porte City. Seda was the second North Tama runner to cross the finish, placing 33rd with a time of 24:15.2. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

North Tama runner Ava Breakenridge, right, leads Union’s Katie Jackson as they approach the finish line during the Union Invitational last Thursday afternoon. Breakenridge, a junior, finished in 36th while Jackson, a freshman, finished in 37th. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER