Sonderman brings home cross country three-peat
For the third consecutive year, Junior Cyclone Lindsey Sonderman has won the KMALand Iowa Girls Cross Country Runner of the year. Sonderman also took home the award during her freshman and sophomore season.
“It's an honor to receive this award for the third time,” Sonderman said. “There are so many amazing high school runners that are just as deserving of this award, so it means a lot that they chose me.”
Sonderman recently wrapped up her junior season of cross country, capping off her season with a second place finish at the Class 3A state meet in Fort Dodge finishing 3.5 seconds behind Marissa Ferebee of Pella.
“Before the state meet, I thought I would be lucky to finish in the top five, so to finish second was just the best feeling,” Sonderman added. “I'm really motivated for next season too, since I was so close to first place.”
Following the state meet, Sonderman took the opportunity to celebrate with her teammates.
“A couple of my teammates and I went to a restaurant in Fort Dodge, and ate supper together,” she said. “It was really fun, because we were all so excited. I'm glad we got to make those memories together.”
But it wasn’t just the state meet where Sonderman had a high finish. She won multiple events this year including the Glenwood, Lewis Central, Monarch, Harlan Invitational, and others. Sonderman did miss the Hawkeye Ten Conference Meet due to illness, but came back strong in the state qualifying meet at Pella finishing third with 19:08.69, just 29 seconds behind Ferebee, who won the event.
Every year, Sonderman has continued to grow and climb higher in placing finishing 16th her freshman season and sixth during her sophomore year.
“That freshman year, she had a really good season,” said Cyclone Head Coach Zach Klaassen. “We were at state, and she finished just outside of the top 15. I think that stoked a little fire inside of her, and really motivated her, and the rest is history. She’s been on the deck two years in a row now, between sixth last year, and second this year.”
While it’s almost a year away, Sonderman will be entering her senior season of Cyclone cross country with one final attempt to build off her second place finish at state.
“I look forward to watching her run,” Klaassen said. “She’s a fun athlete to watch. I hope the other thing she does is set a good example for the young kids, and I hope the young kids can come in next year and latch on to her and study her and watch what she does, and learn from that. I hope that she can be a great leader again next year.”