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By Tyler Julson and Sarah Stultz

The Lake Mills boys cross country team traveled to Fort Dodge Saturday to defend their 2023 state championship against more than 100 runners from across Iowa. 

Despite the odds, the Bulldogs did one of the hardest tasks in sports and won back-to-back state championships with a team score of 88. 

Hayden Thompson led the team, running a time of 16:12.0 and finishing in fifth place overall. Knute Rogne also finished in the top 10, finishing in exactly 10th place with a time of 16:31.2. 

Also scoring for Lake Mills were Kade Van Roekel, Stephen Brandenburg and Lane Rygh. Van Roekel came in 15th place with a time of 16:35.9, Brandenburg in 41st with a time of 17:21.3, and Rygh in 80th with a time of 17:48.8. 

Royce Peterson and Joseph Charlson also ran for the Bulldogs but finished outside the scoring top-five. Peterson finished in 98th place with a time of 18:04.7 and Charlson came in 119th place with a time of 18:43.0. 

Overall there were 158 runners that participated in the state meet. North Iowa senior Gavin Grunhovd won the individual race with a time of 15:57.5. 

The Bulldogs’ team score of 88 was 44 points ahead of the second place finishers Ankeny Christian Academy with 132. 

Lake Mills will be in prime position to defend their title again next year as Van Roekel is the lone runner for the Bulldogs who will graduate after the season.

Coach Van Roekel said this is only the fourth state title in school history, with one being won previously each in wrestling and golf and now two in cross country.

This is also the first time they have had three individuals medal at state with Thompson, Rogne and Kade Van Roekel.

Thompson broke the school record that was set last year at state by Justin Rygh, running a 16:12.0. The previous record was 16:14.9. He also tied the highest individual placement at state with fifth, matching Zach Marpe from 2012.  

She said when they won the state title last year, it was a momentous occasion for the team, which fueled them to work even harder to try to win another state title in back-to-back years.

They had lost their top runner, Justin Rygh, so they knew they had to step up and work hard.

Two runners did so and traded going fifth and sixth throughout the season. Lane Rygh, finished in their fifth spot at state, and ran almost 15 seconds faster then his personal record, a 17:48.8.  Peterson finished in their sixth spot, also running his personal record time of 18:04.7. 

“I am so proud of all my runners, but Hayden Thompson went from our consistent fourth runner last year, to our lead runner, cutting off a minute from his best time last year, and leading the Bulldogs,” she said. “Knute Rogne  and Kade Van Roekel, can also run in the 16s which was a huge boost to our score, when you have three runners who can run in the 16s. Stephen Brandenburg also ran his PR at state, cutting off nearly 7 seconds, which is almost 40 seconds faster then his best time in 2023.”

“These boys have taken pride in this sport of cross country, worked so hard to reach their goals, and to see their goals be accomplished, and to prove themselves on the course, was another dream come true,” she said. “I am so thankful to be around these boys each day, and to see their drive, determination and focus. They put their heart and souls into this season and their team, and it paid off with a large team win and three individuals earning honors at state.”