By Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

The road to the state cross country meet started over the summer, continued over the past two months and officially comes to an end on Thursday at 20 state qualifying meets in four classes across the state.

By the time the dust settles on Thursday 15 teams in each class will have secured spots at the state meet Oct. 28 at Lakeside Golf Course in Fort Dodge.

Here are five things to watch out for as teams battle for a berth at the state meet on Thursday.  

Home Sweet Home

Competing at a familiar course is an advantage for any cross country team especially in the postseason when every point and every place can be crucial.

Four area teams will have that benefit on Thursday as City High, West High, Solon and Regina all compete at state qualifying meets on their home course.

City High and West High are both part of the 10-team field at the 4A state qualifier at the Ashton Cross Country Course at the University of Iowa which serves as the home course for both teams.

“This is the first time that the regionals have been in Iowa City in my time,” West High girls coach Mike Parker said. “It’s at our home course, City High is the host so we have our arch rival and we are really excited.”

Across town Regina is hosting a Class 2A qualifier at Kickers Soccer Complex while Solon is pulling double duty, hosting a 1A and 3A doubleheader meet at the Solon Nature and Recreation Area.

Keeping the Streaks

The two longest active strings of consecutive state meet appearances for girls squads both belong to Iowa City schools.

City High and West High will both try to keep those streaks alive on Thursday.

The Little Hawks have qualified for the state meet a state-best 29 consecutive years and will attempt to stretch that mark to an even three decades with a top-three finish on Thursday.

It won’t be an easy task for City High, which faces a field that includes second-ranked West High, seventh-ranked Cedar Falls and No. 12 North Scott.

West High will put its own string of 22 consecutive state meet appearances on the line.

Hitting Stride

Every team aims to peak at the right team.

Clear Creek Amana appears well on its way to doing just that for the second straight season.

The Clippers returned to the state meet for the second time in program history and first since 2013 with a strong state qualifying performance last season.

Boosted by the addition of 25th ranked freshman Brandon Barker and coming off the best WAMAC Conference meet finish in program history Clear Creek Amana appear poised for another strong postseason.

Ninth-ranked Clear Creek Amana joins third-ranked Dallas Center-Grimes and No. 14 Oskaloosa as favorites to advance out of the 3A qualifier in Pella.

New Kids On The Course

In its first varsity season Liberty High has a trio of state meet contenders.

The Lightning will compete at the Class 3A meet at Solon and have runners in both the boys and girls race capable of qualifying for the state meet in their first ever state qualifier.

Sophomore Peter Woodward expects to push for a top-15 finish and a state meet berth in the boys race while freshman Camille Mac and Mackenzie Logan should contend in the girls race.

“Some of them were asking about state results back in August and September so its been kind of fun,” Liberty High boys coach Josh Hildebrand said. “We have a tough district so it will be a battle.”

Enjoy the Show

Much of the focus at state qualifiers is on the team races but some of the top individual talent will be on display at meets featuring area teams.

That list starts with West High senior Bailey Nock.

The defending Class 4A individual champion has been ranked number one throughout the season and is unbeaten against Iowa competition.

Defending 3A champion and top-ranked Center Point-Urbana sophomore Adrianna Katcher will compete at a loaded girls 3A qualifier at Solon.

The girls field at Solon features four of the top seven ranked runners in 3A as second-ranked Grinnell sophomore Mary Blanchard, fourth-ranked Sophia Gilbert of Benton and No. 7 Dubuque Wahlert freshman Gabby Moran join Katcher.

Class 4A fourth-ranked Kolby Greiner is the top ranked area boys competitor and faces a field that includes No. 8 Max Locher of Cedar Rapids Washington and ninth-ranked Brandon Conrad of Cedar Falls.