It’s really not a matter of if — it’s how far ahead the Dutch will be as they hit the final stop before Fort Dodge at today’s state qualifying cross country meet at the Pella Sports Park.

The #1 in 3A girls and #2 in 3A boys are poised to dominate at their home course after impressive performances last week at the Little Hawkeye Conference championships. Both top ranked teams will almost certainly earn one of the top three team spots to earn a bid and the chance to repeat as dual state champions — it’s just a matter of what the end results look like.

However, the rest of the field may be more competitive in terms of the other two teams joining each gender on the road to Lakeside Golf Course. The following ranked teams are competing today:
Boys: #2 Pella, #7 Washington, #11 Clear Creek-Amana, #16 Fort Madison
Girls: #1 Pella, #6 Clear Creek-Amana, #11 Harlan, #17 Washington, #18 Fort Madison

Pella’s boys have qualified for 17 off the last 18 state meets and have won three district titles in a row, Pella’s girls have made it to 16 of the last 17 state races after missing in 2021, only losing three total races since they missed Fort Dodge and placing in the top three of all of those events.

Several individuals will have to navigate the elite field led by the Dutch for their own bids at individual qualifying, placing in the top 15 in order to do so:
Boys: #1 Canaan Dunham, Pella; #3 Micah Rees, Washington; #5 Nathan Vander Waal, Pella; #26 Devon Browne, Pella; #28 Brock Hilsman, Clear Creek-Amana; #29 Noah Schucknecht, Pella
Girls: #1 Lindsey Sonderman, Harlan; #2 Avery Rump, Fort Madison; #5 Marissa Ferebee, Pella; #10 Ruth Dunham, Pella; #13 Raegan Snieder, Pella; #14 Autumn Blink, Pella; #16 Iris Dahl, Washington; Hannah Karre, Keokuk

Racing begins at the Pella Sports Park at 4:00 this afternoon.