It should come as no surprise that the state cross country championship duo from Pella High School enter this fall as the favorites to repeat at the top of Class 3A.

Juniors Marissa Ferebee and Canaan Dunham are the preseason No. 1 runners in the class according to the Iowa Association of Track Coaches rankings, and are the two the rest of 3A — and most of Iowa for that matter, will be chasing. The rankings are based on a new algorithm in 2024.

Ferebee is the best returning female distance runner in 3A after the individual title last fall in Fort Dodge and wins in the 1500 and 3000 meters on the track in May.

Dunham is hunting for an elusive school record in Fort Dodge after an epic back-and-forth with 2022 champion Ethan Eichhorn last October. Canaan was the 3A runner up in both the 1600 and 3200 meter races this past spring to Western Dubuque’s Quentin Naumann, who figures to be the primary challenger to the Dutch standout this fall.

Pella’s other preseason ranked cross country athletes include:
Devon Browne, #8 3A Boys
Mason Gaukle, #13 3A Boys
Noah Schuknecht, #29 3A Boys
Ruth Dunham, #12 3A Girls
Raegan Snieder, #18 3A Girls

Pella opens the cross country season at Cedar Rapids Prairie on August 31st. Stay tuned for full team previews later this week on 92.1 KRLS.