Prep Cross Country- The Iowa Track Coaches Association (IATC) released their second team rankings of the season, but it is still considered a preseason ranking, despite a couple of teams already competing in their first meet going back to last Thursday.
In the boys’ Class 3A rankings, Fort Madison is ranked 14th despite having only one runner ranked in the top 30 of the latest individual rankings (#29 Jacob Shottenkirk). The Bloodhounds finished in 5th as a team at their first meet of the year in Anamosa last weekend.
The Southeast Conference remains strong in the girls’ rankings for Class 3A as #17 Washington ranks two spots above #19 Fort Madison. #14 Iris Dahl and #30 Lauren Horak helped the Demons stay above the Bloodhounds with Ellie Hellman placed at #24.
The lone local team of Class 2A is the Mediapolis boys’ team, who will begin their season today at a meet in Williamsburg. The Bulldogs enter the season ranked #15 as the team tries to run back a 6th place finish at state a year ago.
However, they will be without their top runner Owen Schmidgall, who claimed 9th at state. The Bulldogs do reclaim Will Schmidgall who placed in 33rd at state as a freshman with a time of 17 minutes and 1 second.
The Danville boys’ team enters as an early favorite for Class 1A and for good reason, being ranked 4th for the upcoming season. The Bears graduated just two members of their state qualifying team (Carter Fesler and Talan Whaley) that finished in 5th at the Class 1A state meet.
The Bears return senior Jackson Shacklett, who led the team with a 20th place finish at the state meet.
Van Buren County could cause some havoc for the Bears as the Warriors enter the season ranked 19th in Class 1A. The Warriors finish in 2nd place at their first meet of the season in Albia as Lincoln Bainbridge took 2nd place with a time of 17 minutes and 42 seconds.
The junior is looking to improve upon his 5th place finish at state last year, ending the season with a time of 16 minutes and 13 seconds. He was also joined by Landry Loeffler, a sophomore, who finished within the top 10 at the Albia meet.
Danville and Van Buren County will compete this Thursday, September 5th, at Ottumwa.