Class 4A State Cross Country Meet Breakdown
Class 4A Boys
Time: 11:30 p.m.
Team qualifiers: West Des Moines Valley*, Indianola, Ankeny, Dubuque Hempstead*, Cedar Falls, Dubuque Senior, Cedar Rapids Washington*, City High, Linn-Mar, West Des Moines Dowling*, Johnston, Waukee, Pleasant Valley*, Cedar Rapids Prairie, West High.
Individual district champions: Trevor Kirk, West Des Moines Valley; Sam Schillinger, Cedar Falls; Ryan Murphy, Linn-Mar; Patrick Bose, Johnston; Nicholas Yanek, Pleasant Valley.
2015 Team Champion: West Des Moines Dowling
Returning state placers: 3. Sam Schillinger, Sr., Cedar Falls; 4. Trevor Kirk, Sr., West Des Moines Valley; 6. Ryan Murphy Sr., Linn-Mar; 7. Nicholas Yanek, Jr., Pleasant Valley; 9. Matthew Carmody, Jr., West Des Moines Dowling; 12. Habineza Moise, Jr., West Des Moines Valley; 13. Matt Fraizer, Sr., West Des Moines Dowling.
Top ranked teams/ranked area teams: 1. West Des Moines Dowling; 2. Pleasant Valley; 3. West Des Moines Valley; 4. Dubuque Hempstead; 5. Cedar Rapids Prairie; 10. City High; 12. West High.
Top ranked individuals/ranked area individuals: 1. Patrick Bose, Sr., Johnston; 2. Sam Schillinger, Sr., Cedar Falls; 3. Nicholas Yanek, Jr., Pleasant Valley; 4. Trevor Kirk, Sr., West Des Moines Valley; 5. Ryan Murphy, Sr., Linn-Mar; 9. Kolby Greiner, Soph., West High; 11. Ali Ali, Sr., West High; 20. Matthew Dodge, Sr., City High;
Breakdown: West Des Moines Dowling is seeking back-to-back titles but will need to hold off a group of contenders that includes Pleasant Valley, rival West Des Moines Valley and Mississippi Valley Conference champion Dubuque Hempstead.
West High was eighth at state a year ago and City High was 12th and both have visions of improving those spots this season.
Kolby Greiner was 39th in his state meet debut last year for West High and should contend for a top 10 finish in his return to Lakeside Golf Course in Fort Dodge. Teammate Ali Ali will also be in medal contention along with the City High senior duo of Matthew Dodge and Michael Berg.
Class 4A Girls
Time: 11 a.m.
Team qualifiers: Ankeny Centennial*, Ames, Ankeny, Cedar Falls*, Dubuque Hempstead, Dubuque Senior, City High*, Linn-Mar, Muscatine, Johnston*, Waukee, Dowling, West*, Pleasant Valley, North Scott
Individual district champions: Emma Gordon, Ankeny Centennial; Cassidy Christopher, Cedar Falls; Mary Arch, City High; Jessica McKee, Johnston; Gabby Skopec, West High.
2015 team champion: Urbandale
Returning state placers: 6. Mallory Lafever, Soph., Pleasant Valley; 7. Bailey Nock, Jr., West High; 9. Mary Arch, Sr., City High; 10. Jessica McKee, Jr., Johnston; 12. Emily Poss, Sr., Johnston; 13. Sierra Mitchell, Sr., Southeast Polk; 14. Maddy Minard, Soph., Pleasant Valley.
Top ranked teams/ranked area teams: 1. Johnston; 2. Cedar Falls; 3. City High; 4. Dubuque Hempstead; 5. Ankeny Centennial; 6. West High.
Top ranked individuals/ranked area individuals: 1. Jessica McKee, Jr., Johnston; 2. Gabby Skopec, Sr., West High; 3. Brooke McKee, Fr., Johnston; 4. Bailey Nock, Jr., West High; 5. Mary Arch, Sr., City High; 8. Anna Lindower, Soph., City High.
Breakdown: Top-ranked Johnston appears to be the team to beat behind the sister duo of Jessica and Brooke McKee who will both contend for the individual crown. The Dragons will have a number of teams pushing them as a balanced field will have several teams pushing for top-three finishes. City High and West High will both be in the mix for spots on the balcony.
City High edged West High by a point for fourth place a year ago, finishing 11 points behind third place Bettendorf. Both teams have the ability to move up this year.
Gabby Skopec and Bailey Nock will both contend for the individual title for West High after finishing first and second at the state qualifier.
City High put five finishers in the top 12 while cruising to the team title at the state qualifying meet, led by senior Mary Arch. Arch was ninth at the state meet a year ago and is in line for another top-10 finish.
Four Mississippi Valley Conference teams are ranked in the top six as Cedar Falls and Dubuque Hempstead will join City High and West High in pushing for top three finishes.
*-State qualifying meet winner