After two successful meets to open the 2020 fall season, the Pella Cross Country teams remain in the Class 3A Rankings as voted on by the Iowa Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

The Pella boys jumped up to No. 2 in Class 3A in the latest poll, and the Lady Dutch stayed at No. 15 for the third consecutive week. Both teams were runners-up at the Central Dutch Invitational this past Saturday.

Head Coach Doug Cutler says the runners are off from competition until September 22nd, which is new this season due to some meets not being held for COVID-19 reasons and intentionally scheduled to give the team more time to focus on training and avoid too many opportunities to have the virus impact student athletes and coaches.

Josiah Wittenberg is the No. 6 individual runner in Class 3A, and Tony Schmitz is 22nd. Abby Cutler of Pella is the 21st ranked athlete in the girls ratings. Other area athletes currently ranked as individuals are Knoxville Sophomore Norah Pearson at 8th in 3A, Pella Christian Sophomore Jaclyn Holmes in 18th in Class 2A, Twin Cedars Sophomore Rylee Dunkin at 7th and Melcher-Dallas Junior J’Lyn Knutson in 30th among the 1A girls.

Pella’s cross country boys and girls will be back on the 22nd at the Newton meet.