The Pella Christian and PCM cross country teams compete for their shot at the State Meet tonight in Pella.

The #9 ranked Eagles boys’ team is looking to get back to the State Meet in Fort Dodge for the second consecutive year, where they finished 5th a year ago. The top finisher for the P.C. boys last October at the State Meet was this season’s Class 2A #15 ranked individual Kaden Van Wyngarden, who finished 25th in Fort Dodge. With a shot to go back to State this fall, Van Wyngarden believes that confidence will be key to making that happen.

“Confidence is very helpful because it can be daunting running against people, knowing that if you don’t run well there’s a chance you won’t make it. So, I think staying confident and not being scared by some other teams really helps.”

While the boys are hoping to return to State, the #11 ranked Pella Christian girls’ squad is looking to avenge the disappoint of coming up just 14 points short of a trip to Fort Dodge last fall. The Eagles girls’ team had a team average time of 22:31 at the State Qualifier in Pekin in 2021 and have beaten that mark in two out of their last three meets. 

The PCM girls’ cross country team enters tonight’s State Qualifier Meet off of a 3rd place finish at the Heart of Iowa Conference Meet at West Marshall last Monday, while the boys finished in 8th place. Freshman Abi Teeter and sophomore Makayla True led the Mustang girls at the conference meet with sixth and seventh place finishes. The PCM boys were led by freshman Coby DeRaad at West Marshall, as he came in 12th place. 

Tonight’s meet at Pella Sports Park begins at 4:00 pm.