While it may not be a Pella/Ballard girls situation at the Pella Sports Park in today’s second varsity race to Fort Dodge, the #1 in Class 3A Dutch boys cross country team will have to hang tough on their own proving ground today in their state qualifying meet.

Led by #5 ranked individual Chase Lauman — who has won three meets in a row, including the Little Hawkeye Conference championship, Pella still remains formidable and the likely favorite for the district title banner, but they will get an excellent challenge from a pair of Raccoon River Conference teams that have been chasing the other state title contender in #2 North Polk.

Winterset (#3 in 3A) and Carlisle (#7 in 3A) have competed in what is one of the deepest leagues in Iowa, and were 2nd and 4th respectively in a highly competitive conference race last week in Adel. The Huskies are paced by #9 in 3A Mason Back, who was 3rd across the line last week, while the Wildcats are a pack team that featured just a 45 second spread from their 1-5 runners at conference, led by #22 Kael Streeter and #27 Kamden Brown. Pella counters with Lauman, as well as #8 in 3A Canaan Dunham and #11 Nathan Vander Waal as they seek momentum heading into a likely bid to the state meet and a chase for the gold next week at Lakeside Golf Course in Fort Dodge.

Racing begins at 4 p.m. today with the girls at the Pella Sports Park and the boys to follow, with admission costing $5 per vehicle.