The state Cross Country meet was Saturday, November 2nd. Thomas Jefferson had three runners qualify for the race. Led by senior Wimach Gilo, juniors Juan Martinez and Aiden Booton all ran in the 4-A race. The meet was at Kennedy Park in Fort Dodge.

Wimach Gilo was ranked in the top 30 by the Iowa Association of Track Coaches (IATC) coming into the meet.

He ended up running 16 minutes 29 seconds in the meet. Gilo placed 35th out of 124 runners in the 4A race.

Since the state meet started qualifying runners in 1976, this is the second highest finishing runner for Thomas Jefferson since the boys starting running 3.1 miles (5 kilometers distance). Eldon Warner is the highest finishing runner for the Jackets placing 18th in 2014 for that same distance. 

“It was a different experience,” said Gilo, because of the harder competition and they’re all running the same speed. “There’s nobody slow in that race.”

Both Gilo and Booton both ran last year’s race as well. “It was more meaningful this year, first time we’ve ever had three guys (individual) qualify in the top ten.” He continued, It’s a great achievement in Coach Muehlig’s coaching years.

Gilo also ran in the All-Star meet, with senior’s Gage Belt, and  juniors Juan Martinez and Alex Aguilar.

It was cool, and it was fun, and challenging,” said Aguilar. It was challenging because of “facing against people who had already done more years of cross country.”

“Because of this, I’m going to be more prepared and a better athlete because I’ve seen what it takes.” Aguilar looks up to the seniors on this team. “They showed me how to pace myself and they prepared me for the mental part of the races.”

“”I have to start looking at colleges now and see where I want to run” after high school, said Gilo.