While the official season has ended, the Pella boys and girls cross country teams are continuing at least one more race before the fall wraps up.
Athletes from the Dutch girls state champions and runner-up Canaan Dunham are racing at the Nike Cross Regional (NXR) Heartland event. While officially not competing on behalf of the school, the varsity athletes who made up the state teams last week will race against the best distance runners in the Midwest.
This comes as Marissa Ferebee entered No. 5 in the Dyestat National Rankings. She’s looking to stay undefeated on 5K courses this fall and qualify for Oregon. The Dutch girls will do their best to join her in the deep field.
Dunham, the 2024 3A runner up, will join several Iowa and Midwest individuals in the race in his own attempt to qualify.