By Douglas Miles
It was probably a year later than expected.
But that just might make it more satisfying.
A year after early-season surgery hampered her cross country season, nothing stood in the way this time as Lone Tree sophomore Vivian Zaruba earned a bid to the girls' state cross country meet with a sixth-place finish at Thursday's Class 1A state-qualifying meet at the Kickers Soccer Complex in Iowa City.
"It means a lot," said Zaruba, who finished with a career-best time of 21:52.9. "I worked really hard and it is just nice to see it all pay off."
The top-two teams and top-10 individuals from each of the eight state-qualifying meet sites advance to the 1A state meet, which is Friday, Oct. 28 at Lakeside Municipal Golf Course in Fort Dodge.
Zaruba is Lone Tree's first state-qualifier in cross country since Ella Feldman qualified four times from 2009-12.
"I was extremely pleased with how she did," third-year Lone Tree Coach Tiffany Regan said. "She had a goal and she accomplished that goal today. ... She is extremely hard-working, very determined. She tries hard at everything she does and she wants to do it well."
Zaruba entered this season determined to beat her top freshman time of 24:42.26, established at last year's state-qualifying meet. That felt like a foregone conclusion to many considering the unfortunate start to her freshman campaign, when a summer of work and preparation was halted because of surgery to remove her appendix just days before the beginning of the school year.
The time off and ensuing recovery period placed a significant burden on her ability to get back to peak form in time for the postseason cross country races.
"For sure, it did," Zaruba said. "I had to take four weeks off of running. I had been running all summer and then I had to take four weeks off. So it really made my time go down."
By the third meet of the season Sep. 8 at Fairfield, her time had improved by more than a second at 24:41.0. Less than three weeks later at Washington, she posted her previous season-best time of 22.19.
"I shaved off two minutes, which was a very big surprise to me," Zaruba said. "I really wasn't expecting that."
"She, almost every single meet, has placed this season," Regan added. "She was determined. She wanted it."
That two-and-a-half minute time drop held a measure of significance as the 10th-place finisher at last year's state-qualifying meet posted a time of 22:41.45. Suddenly, qualification for the state meet seemed more probable than possible.
"Coming into this season, I didn't really think about it that much," Zaruba said. "But as we progressed further and further, it became a lot more realistic."
Buoyed by a vocal supporting cast of Lone Tree students along the course route, Zaruba got off to a strong start on Thursday. Throughout the first three miles, she was firmly in fourth place.
"A lot of support I had here today was really motivating," Zaruba said. "It means a lot because I go to support all of them and it is just nice to see them come support me. It really means a lot to me."
Zaruba ultimately finished sixth, firmly entrenching her within the state field. With just eight days between the state-qualifying meet and Friday's state meet, the plan of preparation is uncomplicated.
"It is going to take a lot of practice," Zaruba said. "It is really a mental toughness thing for me."
Hudson won the team title, led by freshman Desi Lang, who won the race in 20:37.50. Iowa City Regina was second in the team standings.
With a time of 23:37.3, Highland freshman Siena Stanerson was the top finisher for the Huskies at 21st place. Stanerson's freshman teammate Erika Thomann was 31st in 25:03.5. Hillcrest Academy sophomore Delaney Shaw placed 46th in 26:12.3.
In the boys' race, Regina and Bellevue were 1-2 in the team standings as Bellevue junior Payton Griebel won in 16:49.0.
Hillcrest sophomore Micah Gerber finished 27th in 19:46.9, while sophomore teammate Jesse Blossom was 38th in 20:20.5. Lone Tree junior Joey Birtcher paced the Lions with a 61st-place finish in 22:49.3, while junior Jackson Schneider led Highland two spots later in 23:09.8.
