There has never been a Iowa High School duo like Katie and Ashlie – teammates who have consistantly triumphed at state and national levels (photo taken at the 2009 Foot Locker Cross Country Meet with Katie on the right and Ashlie on the left.
Katie began her running career as an age group runner and progressed to a top Middle School runner at St. Augustin’s. She excelled from an early age thanks to the Excalibur track club and coach Cortez Nichols.
Ashlie tried track at St. Theresa’s, but remained undecided on which sport, volleyball or cross country as a freshman at Dowling Catholic - fortunately she picked cross country.
Katie’s track accomplishments include being a three-time winner of the Drake Relays and the State of Iowa High School meets in the 3000m. She also has many honors at 1500m, 800m and on relay teams. Ashlie has her share of awards at track distance races, too.
Cross Country, the cousin of road races like Dam to Dam, shines for the duo. Katie and Ashlie have led their Dowling Catholic team to three straight state championships. Freshmen year, they signaled what was to follow, as their Dowling Catholic team placed second.
Individually, they have been crowned champions every year of their high school careers. In ninth and tenth grade, Katie won the title. Ashlie won when they were juniors. Their final meet as seniors displayed their competitiveness as Katie won by only 3 seconds.
On the national level, they both ran and placed at the Nike Team Nationals (NTN) and Foot Locker meets. They paced their Dowling Catholic team to NTN twice. Their senior year, Katie won the Nike Team Nationals. They both ended their high school cross county career at the Foot Locker meet last December. Katie edged out Ashlie to finish 8th and 9th respectively.
Katie and Ashlie are excellent students and extraordinary young women. They exemplify the commitment to others less fortunate; Katie working with poor children in Goiania, Brazil and Ashlie at an orphanage in Barinas, Venezuela.
Katie will be attending the University of Washington and Ashlie the University of Minnesota, each on track/cross country scholarships.
NOTE:: Information provide by Father Jim Kirby, High School cross country coach at Dowling Catholic. At the time of this writing the 2010 track season is just beginning.
We would like to thank our two primary race sponsors, Allied Insurance and News Channel 8. This event is possible because of their continuing support and dedication.