ADMADM’s fall sports teams have all completed competition, and that includes the cross country runners after Josh Berger’s career ended with his race in the Senior All-Star meet in Ankeny this past weekend.

Berger was the Tigers’ top boys runner all season, and on the girls’ side, there was one runner who also separated herself as the leader and ADM’s go-to top finisher: Brianna Mueller.

Mueller was the lone runner to qualify for the state meet on the girls’ team, and she placed 89th out of 128 competing runners in Class 3-A.  While that finish might not have been as high as Mueller would have liked, ADM head coach David Zwank says the young sophomore shouldn’t hold her head.

“There is only a certain number of people that get to go (to State), and only one kid wins the race for each class.  So like I’ve said that’s why running to me is so special because everybody can be successful, everybody can actually come away a winner in terms of getting faster times and running better–that’s a win.”

Zwank expects Mueller to take on more of a leadership role on the cross country team next season.  He hopes she can use her abilities to push other girls runners to strive for similar excellence.

“I think a lot of the girls were skeptical about their ability to run in practices even with her, but I think what she’s going to be able to come back to the team and say, ‘hey you know what, just having you around, just having you be with me is very supportive’, and so that’s a cultural thing that I think we’re trying to continue to develop here.”

Zwank adds that he does believe Mueller will be able to use her experience at the state meet to not only better herself, but to better her team moving forward.

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