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Cross country runners have faced brutal heat, constant rain, heavy winds and just downright tough weather most of this fall.
On Thursday, they will be greeted by near-perfect conditions at the annual Fort Dodge Invitational.
This meet takes place inside Kennedy Park at Lakeside Golf Course – the home of the state championships since 1993.
Racing action will begin at 4 p.m. with middle school, followed by junior varsity and varsity. The girls varsity race is set for 5:30 p.m., and the boys will take place at 6 p.m.
Joining the host Dodgers will be St. Edmond, Manson Northwest Webster, ADM, Ames, Ankeny, Ankeny Centennial, Ballard, Bishop Heelan, Carlisle, Dallas Center-Grimes, Des Moines Roosevelt, Dowling, Indianola, Johnston, Lewis Central, Mason City, Newton, Norwalk, Sioux City East, Sioux City North, Southeast Polk, Unity Christian, Urbandale, Valley, Waukee and Waukee Northwest.
Several squads are currently ranked, including Class 4A schools Dowling (third), Dallas Center-Grimes (fourth), Johnston (fifth), Waukee (sixth), Valley (ninth) and Waukee Northwest (10th). Mason City is seventh in 3A and Unity Christian is fourth in 2A.
For the girls, the field features 4A's No. 1 team in Johnston, along with second-rated Ankeny Centennial, No. 3 Waukee Northwest, seventh-ranked Dallas Center-Grimes, No. 8 Valley and 10th-ranked Dowling. Unity Christian is eighth in 2A, and Manson Northwest Webster is ninth in 1A.
Top individuals scheduled to compete include defending race winner and No. 1 (4A) Kuma Gutema from Sioux City North, third-rated (4A) Jack Crossland of Johnston, No. 5 (4A) Jax Alvarez from Ankeny Centennial, No. 3 (3A) Henry Hansen of Mason City and ninth-ranked (2A) Calum Monroe of Unity Christian. Levi Ollinger, a freshman from Manson Northwest Webster, is 29th in 1A.
Five of the girls 4A Top-10 individuals are slated for action, led by No. 1 Emmy Stubbendeck of Waukee Northwest. She is joined by No. 2 Tenley Heidgerken of Dallas Center-Grimes, fourth-ranked Joley Sullivan and No. 7 Natalie Cogdill of Ankeny Centennial, and 10th-rated Emma Weih from Valley. Unity Christian's Kambrie Dekkers is second in 2A.
Waukee Northwest won the girls title last year. Indianola captured the boys crown.
The state meet will take place back in Fort Dodge on Friday, Oct. 30, for 1A and 2A. The 3A and 4A will be on Saturday, Oct. 31.