For the second straight year, Norwalk boys cross country coach Chad Larson has been selected as a Class 4A Boys At-Large Coach of the Year by the Iowa Association of Track Coaches.

Dowling Catholic’s Tim Ives was named the 4A Boys State Coach of the Year by the IATC and Larson was one of five At-Large Coaches of the Year.

Competing in their fourth consecutive state meet October 29, the Warriors placed fourth in Class 4A. The team won four meet titles this fall against a difficult schedule, including their third Little Hawkeye Conference championship in a row.

Larson tells KNIA-KRLS Sports that the season was fun and rewarding, and one he will definitely remember for a long time. Larson says that talent mixed with great team chemistry led to Norwalk’s success.

“The entire team is just so tight,” he said. “There’s something special about cross country as a sport. I think it just brings more opportunity to have so much more team bonding and get to know everyone throughout the team.”

Larson just finished his sixth year as the Norwalk boys cross country coach and has directed the program to new heights. During their current run of state meet appearances, the Warriors have placed ninth in Class 3A in 2019, followed by 4A finishes of 14th, sixth and now fourth.