Several ranked teams and athletes will be converging at the Pella Sports Park Wednesday for the Class 3A state qualifying cross country meet.

The following ranked teams join the No. 8 Pella boys and No. 20 Pella girls:
Ballard (No. 3 Girls)
Carlisle (No. 12 Boys; No. 8 Girls)
Clear Creek-Amana (No. 15 Boys, No. 17 Girls)
Gilbert (No. 17 Boys)
Newton (No. 14 Boys)

The top three schools advance from each race, putting the Dutch girls in a similar spot to their 2020 race; they came into last fall’s event with three ranked teams above them, and finished only behind Ballard and found a 15th consecutive trip to Fort Dodge. Pella’s girls are led by ranked freshman Raegan Snieder, who enters the district meet at the 10th spot among 3A girls, and a pack of sophomores who were all part of the 2020 state qualifying team.

No. 1 in 3A Individual Paityn Noe of Ballard and teammate Ava Vance (12th), and No. 4 Ashley Erzen of Carlisle are the girls to watch for the district title.

Racing begins at 4 p.m. for the 3A boys and girls state qualifying meet at Pella High School.