Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Sophomore Ryan Madden of Fort Dodge runs in Humboldt earlier this season.

PLEASANT HILL — A short-handed Fort Dodge cross country program will compete in a Class 4A state-qualifying meet at Southeast Polk on Wednesday.

The Dodger boys and girls will be in action alongside the host Rams, Ames, West Des Moines Dowling, Mason City, Norwalk, Ottumwa and Urbandale. The varsity girls race begins at 4 p.m., with the boys slated to start at 4:30.

Race day will be bittersweet for FDSH head coach Joe Jackson, who is anxious to see how his runners perform despite missing three important names from the lineup card. Seniors Josh Meier, Carter Delanoit and Alexis Read all entered a quarantine period this week for coming into direct contact with a positive COVID-19 case, prematurely ending their final seasons with the program.

“Of course (Dodger assistants) Karine (Feddersen), Austin (Read) and I are just crushed for the three seniors who won’t be able to participate,” Jackson said. “It’s definitely been a strange year. We faced some quarantine issues early on, and I know the kids were being extra careful after that and doing everything they needed to do. We were hoping we’d cleared those hurdles. Josh, Carter and Alexis had no idea last week (at the CIML Iowa Conference Invitational) would be their last high school race.

“It’s just kind of the way this has gone, though. We all know it’s very important to make the most of the opportunities, because it can and has ended for high school athletes in multiple sports just like that across the state.”

Meier placed 11th at the conference meet in Ames with a time of 16:58. Delanoit was 32nd.

Read took 42nd on the girls’ side.

“We just appreciate everything they’ve done us,” Jackson said. “The timing is obviously unfortunate and disappointing, and we did our best to check with (the IHSAA and IGHSAU) and see if there was any way they could be back in time (for Wednesday’s meet). We understand and respect the ruling, though.”

Sophomore Ryan Madden, freshman Michael Wagner, senior Nathan Rethwisch, senior Jason Hobmeier, junior Jaren Christy, and freshmen Carter Anderson and Zeke Pineda will be in action for the Fort Dodge boys. Seniors Isabel Beekman and Piera McBride will be joined by sophomore Morgan Bodholdt and junior Hannah Drummond in the girls competition.

“We want the teams to run their best and encourage each other,” Jackson said. “We’d like to see them improve their times and work in packs to push each other. This is a tougher course — a little more hilly — than some of the others. It’s a great opportunity to see what they can achieve.

“The seniors are expected to lead and encourage. They’ve done a terrific job of that all year. The others are building some momentum into the future. We are hoping they push themselves and establish new PRs (personal records). We’ve been tapering, and now is the time to finish up strong. We’re just grateful for those who are still able to do this.”

Jackson also wished St. Edmond “the best of luck in their (Class 1A state-qualifying meet on Thursday) in Holstein.”

“I talked to Coach (Mike) Szalat (on Tuesday),” Jackson said. “We’re really pulling for them, and think they have a tremendous chance to qualify (for state) in both (the boys and girls races). It’s important that we continue to support each other in this community (between the two programs), and I feel like there has always been a mutual respect between the Dodger and Gael runners.”

The Class 4A state meet is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 30, at Lakeside Golf Course. Fort Dodge will be the host school for the 28th consecutive season.