-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Alyssa Richman of Manson NW Webster

The two-day state cross country championships begin here on Friday morning at Lakeside Golf Course.

Class 1A and 2A will be on the trail first starting at 10:30 a.m., while 3A and 4A hit the course Saturday with the same start time.

For Humboldt’s Brynn Malo, this will mark her state debut. Meanwhile, North Central Conference rival Moriah Knapp of Algona is set for her final appearance in Fort Dodge.

Both will run in the 3A girls race with Algona’s Ryan Stundahl in the boys event. In 1A, Manson Northwest Webster’s Preslie Oswald, Alyssa Richman and Lane Moline have qualified, along with Tyra Schupbach of West Bend-Mallard, Jacey Welbig of North Union and Gavin Swift from Bishop Garrigan.

The 2A race boasts Southeast Valley’s Oscar Hanson and Cooper Nuss, Eagle Grove’s Drake Weland, Parker Engel and Landon Sporrer from East Sac County, Noah Hinote of Greene County and Chloe Judish and Iris Melody from South Central Calhoun.

Knapp is a veteran of state in both cross country and track. Last spring, she battled a stress fracture before returning to finish sixth in the 3,000 at state. She also was 13th at state as a junior.

This fall, the same injury resurfaced and cost her some of her senior season.

“I started out in decent shape,” Knapp said. “I ran my first two meets and they went well. I started having pain in my femur and shortly found out it was a stress fracture. Since then I have been mostly on the bike and running very low mileage.

“I was healthy enough to run conference and districts, and I was fortunate enough to qualify for state. It has been hard bouncing back, but I have done it before.”

Knapp added that “I do wish I was at 100 percent and feeling my best, but I am just happy to be running.”

For Malo, her name now gets placed on a long list of qualifiers for Humboldt, including current University of Iowa runner Bryce Gidel.

“I find it really awesome to add my name to that list of amazing runners who have made it to state,” she said. “The last few years, I have been how many miles Bryce has put in and all the success she has found in the sport. She really inspires me to keep working hard and push myself to also become successful.

“For me, qualifying for state is a big accomplishment. For the last year, I have been looking forward to running at the high school level and I am very proud that I was able to find success this season.”

Stundahl, Hanson, Weland, Oswald, Richman and Moline are all back after placing inside the Top-62 each last year. Oswald was 19th, Stundahl 32nd, Richman 33rd, Hanson 41st, Moline 48th and Weland 62nd in their respective races.

STATE CROSS COUNTRY QUALIFIERS

(Area-runners only)

Class 1A

Girls

St. Edmond–Klara Baker, Andee Barwin, Ellie Knox, Anna Kolacia, Hannah Landwehr, Michaela Leiting, Anna Lursen.

Manson Northwest Webster–Preslie Oswald, Alyssa Richman.

North Union–Jacey Welbig.

West Bend-Mallard–Tyra Schupbach.

Boys

St. Edmond–Thomas Cosgrove, Thomas Knobbe, Aaron Lursen, Sam Mericle, Carter Rial, Liam Shannon, Anthony Valles.

Manson Northwest Webster–Lane Moline.

Bishop Garrigan–Gavin Swift.

Class 2A

Girls

Pocahontas Area–Kristin Axman.

South Central Calhoun–Chloe Judisch, Iris Melody.

Boys

Southeast Valley–Oscar Hanson, Cooper Nuss.

Eagle Grove–Drake Weland.

East Sac County–Parker Engel, Landon Sporrer.

Greene County–Noah Hinote.

Class 3A

Girls

Algona–Moriah Knapp.

Humboldt–Brynn Malo.

Boys

Algona–Ryan Stundahl.

STATE CROSS COUNTRY SCHEDULE

Friday’s Events

10:30 a.m.–Class 1A Girls; 11:15–Class 1A Boys; 11:20–Wheelchair Division; noon–Class 1A Awards Ceremony; 2 p.m.–Class 2A Girls; 2:45–Class 2A Boys; 3:30–Class 2A Awards Ceremony

Saturday’s Events

10:30 a.m.–Class 3A Girls; 11:15–Class 3A Boys; noon–Class 3A Awards Ceremony; 2 p.m.–Class 4A Girls; 2:45–Class 4A Boys; 3:30–Class 4A Awards Ceremony