Budding Star Orr, Wildcats Boys XC Prove Strong at State

By: Nathan Bloechl — [email protected]

Fort Dodge, Iowa — Quinton Orr, meet the state running landscape.

After competing at the state meet last year as a freshman, Orr, now a sophomore, has fully arrived.

Orr kicked things into overdrive in the final minutes of the race to glide to a second-place overall finish at the state meet on Saturday.

Orr, who came into the race ranked 5th in the state, glided past fellow sophomore Nate Mueller of ADM-Adel to place second.

Quinton ran 16:10 even for the silver.

It’s just the beginning of what could be a truly special career for the young, emerging star.

Last year I told multiple people that [Quinton] would win a state title before he graduated” Humboldt graduate and now Simpson College runner Ryan Courtney said.

I’m doubling down [now.]”

Orr, who placed second in the NCC Meet a few weeks back, just looked different out there on Saturday.

Composed, calm, and yet fearless.

He ran his race, and dominated the final moments like few others can.

It was a truly remarkable spectacle.

Orr was just one of a handful of Humboldt boys’ competing on Saturday, after qualifying for the team portion of the race.

Joseph Kunert placed 29th, Eric Wittrock 75th, and Devon Coon 102nd, as Humboldt finished 9th in the team standings.

The team champion was Gilbert, who was led by Rees Tyler and Nathan Patel.

The individual champion was Cody Mertens, of Mount Pleasant who ran 16:03.