Fort Dodge, Iowa — The Ballard men's cross country team wrapped up a season of growth and promise at the State Cross Country Meet held at the Municipal Golf Course in Fort Dodge.  Competing against the state's elite runners, sophomore Max Davidson and freshman Austin Vance represented Ballard with solid performances on the championship stage.

Davidson finished 75th with a time of 17:17.4, while Vance crossed the line at 17:44.6, placing 93rd.  With just two runners at the meet, Ballard competed individually, showcasing their talent and potential for the future.  Gilbert claimed the team title with a dominant score of 33, followed by Des Moines Christian and Pella in second and third place.

Head Coach Scott Barth praised the young duo for their season-long improvements and determination, especially noting Davidson's breakthrough at the State Qualifying Meet.  "Max had a breakthrough run at the state qualifier, cutting 37 seconds off his previous PR and moving to #5 all-time on Ballard's 5K record board," Barth said.  "He may have taken off a bit fast in his first mile, which is easy to do at state, but he's got more in him. With more consistency and confidence, he has the potential to go sub-16."

Barth also highlighted Vance's impressive performance this season, especially as a freshman.  "Austin set a PR by 45 seconds at the qualifier, moving into #6 all-time—the fastest time by any freshman in our history," Barth added.  "He, too, has the potential to break 16 minutes, which would give us a very strong 1-2 punch moving forward."

With Davidson and Vance already placing their names on the Ballard 5K leaderboard, the future looks bright for Ballard men's cross country.