For the second-ranked Class 3A Algona boys cross country team, this season has been nothing like the smooth ride it was last year.

Yet, Algona will be looking to end it the same way - with a state title.

Algona has been hampered with injuries and faced adversity throughout the course of the season, but a healthy lineup leaves head coach Chad Ahlers and the Bulldogs in position to make a run at the repeat.

The Bulldogs will look to defend their title here at Lakeside this Saturday as the 3A race is set to start at 12:30 p.m.

"We've battled through a lot this year. It's definitely been different than last season when everything was just perfect," said Ahlers. "To face all these injuries and still have a chance to win a state championship is an opportunity we are really excited for."

Algona has been battle tested so far through injuries as senior Chad Rutledge overcame a broken foot in the summer and senior Kyle Walker dealt with knee damage.

Junior Ryan McMahon and Rutledge lead Algona to their district title by finishing first and second respectively. Both will be looking to up the ante as McMahon placed second at state last year and Rutledge has finished in third place two years in a row.

"Ryan is extremely team-oriented and has a mentality that makes this team better," said Ahlers. "Chad is insanely talented and adds a lot of life to the group. He can relax the team. Both of these guys are tremendous runners."

While Rutledge and McMahon are usually within steps of eachother near the top, Alex Kenne is also a dangerous runner for Algona. Kenne placed fourth at districts with a time of 17:22.

Johnny Aboud, Derek Beaumier, Joe Schattsschneider and Walker round out the Bulldog lineup.

The competition near the top will be sturdy as Algona will be up against top-ranked Pella, third-ranked Decorah and fourth-ranked Boone.

"There are four teams that each have an excellent chance at winning 3A," said Ahlers. "It's a lot of fun to put your team in that mix and see how it turns out. I do think this team has as good of a shot at taking state as last year's."

Webster City's Alex Lamp will be in the mix of things in 3A as well after qualifying individually by placing ninth at districts with a time of 17:41.85.

Class 2A

Bishop Garrigan's Erin Reedy may be just a freshman, but has proven to be as much of a contender for the individual title as anyone else in the field.

Reedy is the fourth-ranked runner in 2A and placed first at districts with a time of 16:13.

The Humboldt girls squad will be making a repeat performance in Fort Dodge after qualifying last year. The Wildcats have runner-up finished in districts two years in a row after placing second with 50 points at Eagle Grove.

Junior Katie Fevold (16:14) and sophomore Kallie Kollmorgen (16:20) placed third and fourth in the meet and will be looking to lead Humboldt once again. Fevold is the 21st ranked runner in 2A while Kollmorgen is ranked 24th respectively.

Humboldt will also be represented by sophomore Nick Olthoff on the boy's side. Olthoff gave a sixth place effort at districts to qualify with a time of 17:45.

Eagle Grove's Zach Thompson - who qualified for state last season as a junior - finished in second place at districts with a time of 17:03. Thompson is the tenth-ranked runner in the 2A field.

The girl's Class 2A race will start at 1:00 p.m. with the boy's race following at 1:30 p.m.

Class 1A

The Prairie Valley girls team broke free at the district level with a third place finish, now the Warriors will be looking to make noise at state.

Jaclyn Rittgers (17:33.05) and Lindsey Kruse (17:42.27) finished 14th and 15th to help the Warriors reserve a state spot. Shanda Carlson, Jenny Randleman, Kat Gleason and Jana Randleman will also battle for Prairie Valley this Saturday as well.

The Laurens-Marathon boys team placed third at districts to qualify for the state meet. The Chargers were lead by junior Chad Kischer. Kischer placed fourth with a time of 17:55.

Bennett Barglof, Case Bieri, David Jones, Trent Kischer and Brice Wenell round out the Charger lineup.

Manson Northwest Webster's Taylor Huseman placed first at districts with a time of 16:58. Huseman - who also qualified individually as a sophomore last year - is the ninth-ranked runner in 1A.

Contact Brady Johnson at (515) 573-2141 or by e-mail at sports@messengernews.net

Area Qualifiers

Class 4A

Girls

Individual - Fort Dodge: Krista Thompson, jr.; Tara Jackson, fr.

Class 3A

Boys

Teams - Algona.

Individual - Webster City: Alex Lamp, jr.

Class 2A

Boys

Individual - Humboldt: Nick Olthoff, so.; Eagle Grove: Zach Thompson, sr.

Girls

Teams - Humboldt.

Individual - Bishop Garrigan: Erin Reedy, fr.

Class 1A

Boys

Teams - St. Edmond; Laurens-Marathon.

Individual - Manson Northwest Webster: Taylor Huseman, jr.

Girls

Teams - St. Edmond; Prairie Valley

Individual - Bishop Garrigan: Erin Reedy.