A Quick Look at Girls Cross Country State Qualifying Meets
Class 4A
Where: Noelridge Park in Cedar Rapids
When: Thursday, 4 p.m.
Teams: Cedar Rapids Jefferson, Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Cedar Rapids Washington, Western Dubuque, City High, Linn-Mar, Muscatine, Newton, Ottumwa.
Ranked Teams: No. 3 City High, No. 7 Muscatine, No. 13 Linn-Mar, No. 14 Cedar Rapids Kennedy.
Top ranked individuals: 4. Hannah Frazee, Sr., Cedar Rapids Prairie; 7. Reagan Gorman, Soph., Cedar Rapids Washington; 11. Ella Popenhagen, Fr., Cedar Rapids Kennedy.
What to watch: Third-ranked City High is the favorite to win the meet and run its streak of state meet appearances to an astonishing 28th straight. The Little Hawks finished fourth at the state meet last season and have a pair of runners ranked in the top 21 in No. 15 Mary Arch and No. 21 Emily Bywater.
Class 4A
Where: Crow Creek Park in Bettendorf
When: Thursday, 4 p.m.
Teams: Bettendorf, Burlington, Clinton, Davenport Central, Davenport North, Davenport West, West High, North Scott, Pleasant Valley, Cedar Rapids Prairie.
Ranked Teams: No. 6 West High, No. 8 Bettendorf, No. 10 Pleasant Valley.
Top ranked individuals: 1. Gabby Skopec, Sr., West High; 3. Bailey Nock, Jr., West High.
What to watch: West High rebounded from a disappointing finish at the Mississippi Valley Conference Super Meet to win the MVC Divisional meet last Thursday. The Women of Troy will be pushed by defending state runner-up and host Pleasant Valley and eighth-ranked Bettendorf. West High senior Gabby Skopec and junior Bailey Nock should battle for the individual title.
Class 3A
Where: Solon Nature and Recreation Area
When: Thursday, 4 p.m.
Teams: Davenport Assumption, Central DeWitt, Clear Creek Amana, Fairfield, Keokuk, Maquoketa, Marion, Mount Vernon-Lisbon, West Burlington/Notre Dame, Solon, South Tama, Washington, Williamsburg.
Ranked Teams: No. 8 Mount Vernon-Lisbon, No. 14 Davenport Assumption.
Top ranked individuals: 17. Julia Schumacher, Jr., Davenport Assumption; 22. Claire Horak, Soph., Washington; 25. Hallie Kephart, Soph., Marion.
What to watch: Eighth-ranked Mount Vernon-Lisbon and defending state champion Assumption appear to be the top two contenders leaving the third state meet spot up for grabs.
Solon should contend for a top three finish and a state meet berth at its home course. The Spartans finished in front of six of the teams in the field on its way to a runner-up finish to Mount Vernon-Lisbon at last week’s WAMAC meet on the same course.
Class 2A
Where: Monticello High School
When: Thursday, 4 p.m.
Teams: Anamosa, Dyersville Beckman, Camanche, Cascade, Danville-New London, Louisa-Muscatine, Mediapolis, Monticello, North Cedar, Northeast, Regina, Springville-Central City, Tipton, Waukon, West Liberty.
Ranked Teams: No. 1 Monticello, No. 11 Cascade, No. 13 Regina, No. 15 Anamosa.
Top-ranked individuals: 5. Pagie Holub, Jr., Monticello; 8. Emma Duncan, Jr., Anamosa; 11. Jordyn Patterson, Jr., Monticello.
What to watch: A crowded district with four ranked teams means that one top-15 team will miss out on a trip to state.
The top two finishers from last year’s 2A state meet are the two highest ranked teams in in No. 11 Cascade and top-ranked Monticello while No. 13 Regina finished fourth at the 1A state meet last year.