Photo from Central Invitational 9-7-19

Local cross country athletes are racing today for the chance to qualify for the state meet.

As has become tradition, the No. 10 in 3A Pella boys and No. 15 in 3A Lady Dutch will get the chance to defend their home course as they will race at Central College at 4:00 this afternoon.

Knoxville will also make the short trip to Central College. Some of the stiffest competition for the Pella and Knoxville teams will be the DCG squads both ranked 3rd in boys and girls and the No. 4 Norwalk boys and No. 5 Norwalk girls. Boys team to watch Bondurant-Farrar and girls team to watch Winterset are also in the field.

In Class 2A, Pella Christian joins area teams Pleasantville and PCM at Williamsburg. The host Raiders both have top five teams, Mid-Prairie has the top ranked girls team and the 8th best boys team heading into the meet, and Davis County also brings in rated boys and girls squads. The field also includes the No. 7 boys from Danville-New London. Races begin at 4 p.m.

Marshalltown is hosting both Class 4A and 1A, including Indianola, Melcher-Dallas, and Twin Cedars. The Indians will contend with the top 3 ranked Johnston teams, the 7th ranked Prairie Cedar Rapids boys and girls squads, and the ranked Iowa City Liberty teams. Those races will begin at 3 p.m.