COUNCIL BLUFFS — As the final cross country team scores were announced, Doug Renkly held his breath.

The Harlan coach and his runners weathered some drama during Saturday’s Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln Invitational on a gorgeous morning at the Iowa Western campus. As the boys totals came in, it was apparent his group could finish anywhere from fourth to first.

Fortunately for the Cyclones, it was the latter. Harlan, with 70 points, edged Sioux City North, 73; CB Thomas Jefferson, 74; and CB St. Albert, 76, in a scramble so close that one runner’s performance could have changed the outcome in the 11-team field. Harlan’s girls ran away with a team title earlier in the day to begin the meet sweep.

“When they kept calling the numbers out, it was like, ‘Wow, we’re still alive, wow, we’re still alive,’ ’’ Renkly said. “Hundreds of things have to go right in order for the big picture to come together.

“It was an excellent day. These days don’t come around very often.”

St. Albert’s Josh Sindelar, ranked No. 18 in Iowa Class 1-A, was Council Bluffs’ top runner. The sophomore took third in 18 minutes, 17 seconds, behind Sioux City North’s Abbabiya Simbassa (17:44) and Sioux City West’s Dan Gassaway (18:15).

George Doll (18:43) rounded out the top 10 for the second-ranked Falcons, and they had four runners earn medals for finishing in the top 20.

“They all realize that if everybody moves up a spot, we win the meet,” St. Albert coach Bob Weidman said. “Everybody knows that, and it’s a good reminder.

It’s motivation to keep working and realize they’re improving, but we have to keep working on it.”

Sindelar said dramatic meets like Saturday’s provide plenty of incentive to try to improve upon last year’s fifth-place team finish at state.

“We pay attention to the rankings, but we don’t let it get to our heads,” Sindelar said. “We work hard in practice and maintain. Our team motto is to pretty much be consistent.”

Thomas Jefferson also put two runners in the top 10 in Kyle McGlade (18:30 for fifth) and Kadin Wright (18:33 for sixth). McGlade, a junior, led the pack for roughly the first third of the 5K, before giving way late.

Lewis Central (212) took eighth as a team, one spot ahead of Abraham Lincoln (228). Both schools finished just outside the individual medals, with L.C. freshman Martin Barradas (19:18) earning 22nd and A.L.’s Alex Dixon (19:36) claiming 28th. Both led their respective squads.

On the girls side, nothing went quite as expected. Missouri Valley entered as the only ranked team in the field of eight, and it finished fourth. The only ranked runner, Harlan’s Jessie Byrnes (24th in Class 3-A), placed 12th.

Harlan, a traditional cross country power, brought a semblance of familiarity to the meet with 37 points and an easy title. Lewis Central was second with 76, followed by Abraham Lincoln, 90; Missouri Valley, 101; and Sioux City North, 103. Rounding out the meet was Denison-Schleswig, 125; Sioux City West, 153; and Red Oak, 247.

Sophomore Jessica Feldman (16:58) led the Cyclones and finished second overall in the 4K run behind Sioux City North’s Josee Jansen (16:19). Harlan placed five runners in the top 12, while no other school managed more than two. In the process, it defended its A.L. meet title from last season.

Feldman, who finished fourth at a meet in Glenwood, Iowa, on Tuesday, said the conditions were ideal for her to make a late run through the pack.

“I just wanted to get out hard and try to push up the hill and recover down the hill,” Feldman said. “Then I wanted to finish as hard as I can. This is the best kind of weather for me, without the humidity and heat.”

In something of a surprise, Abraham Lincoln senior Morgan DeBoer was the top Council Bluffs finisher, taking fifth in 17:23. DeBoer finished behind five of her teammates and 46th overall Tuesday at Glenwood.

A.L. girls coach Ron Lakatos said DeBoer had been dealing with muscle cramps earlier in the season, so he recommended she start the run slower and gradually pick up the pace. The new strategy paid immediate dividends.

“I started out toward the back and just picked girls off one by one,” DeBoer said. “Usually I start fast and let them pass me. Apparently this works better.”

Sophomore Tiffany Lamplot (17:48) made a late charge to lead Lewis Central with a ninth place finish. She was one of four Titans to earn medals by placing in the top 20. L.C. likely would have had five, but dehydration forced senior Natalie Olberding to stop midway through the competition.

Thomas Jefferson’s Emily Dickerson (18:35) also showed marked improvement, jumping to 17th following a 39th-place showing at Glenwood.

St. Albert was represented well by its two runners, Becca Hilderbrand (10th) and Sarah Sneed (21st). They turned in times of 17:50 and 18:42, respectively.

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