Prep Cross Country- The Iowa Association of Track Coaches (IATC) has had the tough task of ranking both the teams and individuals despite some teams still waiting to run for the first time this year due to heat cancelations. Nevertheless, southeast Iowa has been able to make their case in the third edition of the rankings this season.
Class 3A
For Class 3A, the Washington boys’ team jumped into the top 20 at #19 after previously being unranked. On the individual side, Parker Tschantz fell six spots to #30 for the Demons after the Bob Brown invitational was canceled. However, making his first ever appearance in the rankings was Mt. Pleasant’s Silas Hulett at #15. The Panther turned in a 6th place time of 17 minutes and 19 seconds at the Dutch Invite over the weekend. Mt. Pleasant head coach Mitch Anderson is excited for what lays ahead this season for the senior,
“We’re so excited about how his career’s progressed. He had a solid sophomore campaign with some outside shots at state, but didn’t get that achieved. But then his junior year, as you mentioned, qualified for cross country for state and just like an avalanche, every season’s gotten better for him and he carried that momentum from the fall into the spring for track. He was one of our best two milers of all time and was just a few spots out of meddling in the two miles. So really excited how that momentum can now head into the fall.”
Class 2A
In Class 2A, the Notre Dame/West Burlington boys’ team jumped into the top 20 at #17 after winning the Keokuk Invite last week with Cavin Denny claiming a spot at #28, while Hannah Ritter grabbed a spot at #26 on the girls’ side. The Central Lee girls’ team stayed put at #20 after winning the Keokuk Invite last week. The Hawks are led by Aubree Bunnell, who took 4th place at their last competition.
Class 1A
The Columbus boys’ team is still waiting to run for the first time this season, but the Wildcats kept their positioning at #2. The team boasts high expectations after returning all seven runners from their 6th place state finish a year ago.
The Van Buren County girls’ team fell two spots a week ago despite winning a meet, only to climb back up one spot after having their one meet canceled last week. No matter, the Warriors enter the week at #6 in the polls.