Essex’s Sandahl focused on strong finish
Ella Sandahl is back for her senior season leading the Essex cross country program.
Sandahl is the only senior representing Essex this year. In fact, she’s the only member of the Essex girls team. Overall numbers in the program have never been great for Sandahl during her cross country career, which included a state berth last year.
In Sandahl’s final season, she has just two teammates and they are both on the boys team in junior Jesse Johnson-Wityk and sophomore Bentley Bowers. Sandahl said while it’s tough being the only girl on her team, she said Bowers has been a good training partner so far this season.
Essex senior Ella Sandahl opened her senior season with a 17th-place finish Tuesday, Aug. 25, at the Shenandoah Early Bird.
“I always do much better when I’m actually in a race,” Sandahl said, “and I have Bentely this year and he’s very close to where I am. We have a friendly competition going on with a little trash talking, so that helps. He’s also doing really well, and I think having that competition helps me out. Being on a small team and being the only girl has its disadvantages but at least I have a few good boys helping me out.”
Sandahl opened her season Tuesday, Aug. 25, at the Shenandoah Early Bird meet with a 17th-place finish, clocking in at 24:03.
“I felt really good about it,” Sandahl said. “My time was a bit slower than what I was expecting but I really just tried to keep my mind clear. I didn’t want to set any high expectations this early in the season. I came out here and did like a trial run to get the feel for it and (Tuesday) was able to get out strong and just tried to keep it. I was looking at the top 20 and just trying to get in there. I knew if I did my time would be pretty good.”
As a senior, Sandahl knows each season is her last for each specific sport and she said that’s something she’s very aware of and keeps her a bit nervous.
“I only have one more shot to do all I can do and meet all my goals,” Sandahl said. “Keeping my head down and working my tail off is the goal this season. I lost some of my summer with a concussion during softball season so that was two weeks taken away. But I feel like I’m making up for it.”
As for Sandahl and Bowers’ friendly competition, round one Tuesday went to Sandahl with Bowers finishing 49th in the boys field in 25:33. Johnson-Wityk was 71st in 27:42.
The Trojans and Trojanettes run again Saturday at Glenwood before short trips to Clarinda and Red Oak. They run again at Shenandoah Thursday, Oct. 1, before the Corner Conference holds a conference meet for the first time Tuesday, Oct. 6, hosted by East Mills.
Essex sophomore Bentley Bowers competes Tuesday, Aug. 25, at the Shenandoah Early Bird meet.
Essex junior Jesse Johnson-Wityk competes Tuesday, Aug. 25, at Shenandoah. Johnson-Wityk opened his season by placing 71st in a time of 27:42.
Related
Top finishers and both race starts from Tuesday’s Shenandoah cross country meet
