All eyes will be glued on the Class 3A race at the state cross country championships on Friday from Lakeside Golf Course and Kennedy Park.

That’s when defending champion Quentin Nauman of Western Dubuque looks to fend off the challenges of Canaan Dunham from Pella and Caleb Ten Pas of Des Moines Christian.

Nauman, Dunham and Ten Pas will hit the trail alongside the rest of the 3A field at 2:45 p.m.

The trio took the top spots at state last year, as Nauman won in 14:59. Dunham claimed silver and Ten Pas bronze.

Humboldt will also have three runners in the Class 3A girls race. Avery Fisher, Aubry Fisher and Brynn Malo will compete for the Wildcats.

Last year at the state track and field championships in Des Moines, Nauman captured four titles, sweeping the distance events. He continued to find success nationally running and is committed to Oregon.

Nauman and Dunham battled back in August at a meet hosted by Cedar Rapids Prairie. Nauman won in 15:12 while Dunham was second in 15:37.

Gilbert, who topped Des Moines Christian and Pella for team honors last year, has Jacob Tallman, Logan Bleich and Carson Squiers leading the way once again. They finished fourth, fifth and sixth a season ago.

In 2A, Emerson Vokes from Grundy Center is back after posting a 15:37 to claim gold.

For girls, Pella’s Marissa Ferebee and teammates Elsie Brenneman and Ruth Dunham swept the top spots on the 3A podium last season and are all back as the Dutch look for another team title. Ferebee clocked a winning time of 16:30 as a junior.

Piper Messerly of Dallas Center-Grimes won 4A as a sophomore in 17:58 and is back, as is Lili Denton of Council Bluffs St. Albert, who captured the 1A championship in 17:59.

Bedford’s Eli Johnson will be back to defend his wheelchair title.

Winning team titles in 4A last year were the Pleasant Valley girls and Cedar Falls boys. Earlham claimed the girls 1A crown and Lake Mills the boys title while the Mid-Prairie girls and Oelwein boys were champions in 2A.

The 2A girls race is set for 10:30 a.m., 2A boys are at 11:15 a.m., 3A girls are at 2 p.m. and 3A boys at 2:45 p.m. Awards ceremonies will be held at noon (2A) and 3:30 p.m. (3A).

On Saturday, the 4A girls start the day at 10:30 a.m. The 4A boys follow at 11:15 a.m., as 1A girls are at 2 p.m. and 1A boys at 2:45 p.m. The wheelchair division is set for 2:50 p.m. with award ceremonies at noon (4A) and 3:30 p.m. (1A).

Fort Dodge has hosted state cross country every year since 1993.