FORT DODGE — Ottumwa’s Kevin Lewis will have one more shot at a state title. He still can’t be all that disappointed.

The Bulldog junior, who dominated competition all year, placed fourth overall (15:58) at the state cross country meet in Fort Dodge on Saturday.

Lewis’ finish was the highest finish at state for an Ottumwa runner in 75 years, according to OHS head coach Jeff Smith.

The high state finish was Lewis’ only loss of the season. He had won all nine races he had competed in prior to Saturday. Lewis made a startling jump up the state leaderboard after a 67th-state finish last year.

“Overall he was pleased with the year he had. How could you not be?,” said Smith.

Lewis led the race from the mile-and-a-half mark until the midway point of the race. Lewis was one second back of third-place finisher Andrew Barrett of Des Moines Roosevelt, a runner he beat in the regular season. Barrett passed Lewis in the last 25 yards.

“He was mainly pleased on how far he had come and the improvement he made throughout the year,” said Smith.

Lewis wasn’t far off the lead, as just 10 seconds separated him from first-place finisher Marshall Moyer of Burlington, who led his Grayhounds to the team title.

“It’s not like he was way back in fourth,” said Smith. “With Kevin, he’s never satisfied until he’s number one.”

Pekin just missed out on a state title in Class 2A, falling just three points short of three-time consecutive state-title winner Union, LaPorte City’s 57 points.

Pekin won state last year in 1A and moved up a class this year.

“They were really disappointed, they really were. After they were handed the runner-up trophy they kind of put two-and-two together,” said Pekin head coach Davis Eidahl. “After that they were really happy and their mood changed real fast.”

If the Panther team wouldn’t have been forced up to Class 2A they would have easily defended their state crown. Pekin’s overall team score would have been good enough to win the 1A state crown by 80 points and 3A by 50 points.

“We went up their and ran our best,” said Eidahl. “We’re looking forward to next year when we move back down to 1A.”

And they’ll stand a good chance of winning it again as the Panthers return four of the six runners that helped them qualify for state.