Norwalk senior Donovan Card finished his high school cross country career on a high note last Saturday, placing 15th out of 123 runners in the Class 4A State Meet at Kennedy Park near Fort Dodge.

Card’s five-kilometer time of 16:07.34 earned him 4A All-State status as he used a strong final kick to surge from 23rd at the two-mile mark to earning the 15th and final state medalist spot. Card competed in four state meets during his Warrior career, and Saturday marked his best finish yet. He placed 30th in 4A as a junior.

Card was excited with the top-15 finish as it completed a career trifecta of sorts. He is now a state medalist in all three of his high school sports – wrestling, track and cross country.

“It was definitely fun. I’ve been working at this for four years,” he said. “I started in eighth grade. I didn’t think I was going to be this good. I honestly didn’t even know there was a state meet like this.”

Card led the Norwalk boys to a fourth-place team finish at state, which was bittersweet. The Warriors had their eyes set on the top three and a  team trophy, but can take solace in the fact that they have improved each of the last four years at state. After moving up from Class 3A to 4A in 2020, the Warriors have finished 14th, sixth and now fourth.

“It didn’t go quite how we wanted, but top four is definitely amazing,” Card said.

“I was running with my team (Monday night) and we were kind of looking back on what we’ve been able to do over the past four years… with how our program turned out, especially from where we went in 3A to where we are now.”

Card says he would like to run in college next year, but is in no rush to make a commitment. He credits many of his teammates, both current and former, for his success, along with Norwalk cross country coach Chad Larson.

Seniors Card, Jack Brown and Will Chase all competed in four state meets during their Warrior career.