-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Maddie Moline of Manson NW Webster compete in girls 5k run during Southeast Valley on Thursday in Gowrie

A season of firsts will continue Saturday for the Manson Northwest Webster girls cross country team.

The Cougars placed second at districts last week, earning themselves a spot in the Class 1A field. They will race at Lakeside Golf Course inside Kennedy Park at 2 p.m.

Led by two-time individual qualifier Maddie Moline, Manson NW earned the school’s first-ever Twin Lakes Conference title earlier this year.

“This season has been absolutely amazing,” Moline said. “Watching my teammates grow and improve has been my favorite part about this whole season. Making state as a team and being the first team in school history to do so is very rewarding.

“We have been dreaming about this for two years and each of my teammates worked hard during the offseason and season to make this dream a reality.”

Joining Moline on the starting line will be senior Noelle Johnson, classmate Kelsey Widlund, sophomore Paige Condon and freshmen Preslie Oswald, Miranda Pohlman and Abi Shannon.

At districts, the Cougars finished behind only Logan-Magnolia, who enters state ranked first in 1A after capturing the team title last year. The Panthers lost just one runner from their Top-7 finishers at state, including two returning Top-5 medalist.

Moline has qualified for state each of the past three seasons, but she only finished the race as a freshman. That setback suffered as a sophomore helped motivate her this past spring.

“I am very excited to be back competing at state again,” Moline said. “Last year was very difficult for me. Thinking about how I had put in so much hard work just to not finish the race was devastating. This year, I have used that heartbreak as fuel for more fire.

“I am much more confident this year and excited for Saturday.”

Moline placed 27th overall to conclude her ninth-grade campaign. She was the third-highest finishing freshman that season.

Oswald placed sixth in her first district meet to earn an individual qualifying nod, with Condon placing 15th overall. Shannon was 42nd, Widlund 51st, Johnson 100th and Pohlman 117th overall.

“Lining up with my teammates at the start of the state race will be very exciting,” Moline said. “We have accomplished our goal of qualifying for state as a team, so everyone is very excited and ready to run their hardest. Having them next to me will be very relaxing.

“The past two years, I have been very anxious for state because I was alone. Knowing they are right there will definitely help me.”

Humboldt’s Bryce Gidel will be finishing her high school cross country career at state. Gidel, who has committed to the University of Iowa to run cross country and track, is a four-time qualifier.

She will run at noon in the 3A race looking to add to her collection of Top-10 finishes. Gidel was fifth as a sophomore and placed ninth last year.

Emmetsburg will be competing for a high finish in 2A, as the E-Hawks are ranked 12th. Seniors Raven Brown, Hailey Foxhoven and Gabrielle Janssen, along with juniors Allison Fischer, Isabella Householder and Taylor Steinkamp, are joined by ninth-grader Isabel Doyle.

Lea Friedl, a junior, earned an individual bid at districts to represent Eagle Grove in 2A.

The 2A race is set for 1p.m.