By Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

Class 3A Boys

Time: 12:30 p.m.

Team qualifiers: *Carlisle, Bondurant-Farrar, ADM, *Dallas Center-Grimes, Clear Creek Amana, Nevada, *Mount Vernon-Lisbon, Grinnell, Center Point-Urbana, *Gilbert, Sergeant Bluff-Luton, Clear Lake, *Decorah, Marion, Cedar Rapids Xavier.

Individual district champions: Nate Mueller, Fr., ADM; Malachi Hornbuckle, Sr., Nevada; Myles Bach, Sr., Center Point-Urbana; Rees Tyler, Soph., Gilbert; Jeremy Fopma, Sr., Marion.

2016 Team Top-Five: 1. Mount Vernon-Lisbon 86; 2. Grinnell 88; 3. Dallas Center-Grimes 142; 4. Gilbert 162; 5. Pella 173.

Last 5 Team Champions: 2016 – Mount Vernon-Lisbon; 2015 – Mount Vernon-Lisbon; 2014 – Gilbert; 2013 – Boone; 2012 – Decorah.

Returning state placers: 1. Jeremy Fopma, Sr., Marion; 2. Myles Bach, Sr., Center Point-Urbana; 3. Miles Scott, Sr., Sergeant Bluff-Luton; 4. Thomas Clower, Sr., Grinnell; 8. Thatcher Krob, Sr., Mount Vernon-Lisbon; 12. Alex Thompson, Sr., Dallas Center-Grimes; 13. Trenton O’Halloran, Sr., Grinnell; 14. Eric Faught, Jr., Clear Lake (Class 2A); 15. Gus Hayes, Jr., Decorah

Area Individual qualifiers: Peter Woodward, Soph., Liberty High.

Top ranked teams: 1. Decorah; 2. Gilbert; 3. Dallas Center-Grimes; 4. Mount Vernon-Lisbon; 5. Marion.

Ranked Area teams: 8. Clear Creek Amana

Top ranked individuals: 1. Jeremy Fopma, Sr., Marion; 2. Myles Bach, Sr., Center Point-Urbana; 3. Rees Tyler, Soph., Gilbert; 4. Miles Scott, Sr., Sergeant Bluff-Luton; 5. Andrew Kephart, Sr., Decorah.

Ranked Area individuals: 24. Brandon Barker, Fr., Clear Creek Amana

Breakdown: Two-time defending state champion Mount Vernon-Lisbon will try to make history as the first Class 3A team to win three consecutive state titles in the four-class system.

Mount Vernon-Lisbon will have its work cut out for it with top-ranked Decorah and second-ranked Gilbert expected to join the duel for the team title.

Class 3A is the only boys race with the top four finishers from last season back for another shot at the crown.

Last season Jeremey Fopma and Myles Bach finished first and second as Marion teammates. This year Bach is at Center Point-Urbana and should be the top challenger for Fopma who is chasing a third straight top-five finish and second consecutive title.

A year after finishing 14th, Clear Creek Amana should push to finish in the top half of the field behind freshman Brandon Barker and sophomore Nick O’Connor.

Liberty High sophomore Peter Woodward made program history as the first qualifier in Liberty High history.

Class 3A Girls

Time: Noon

Team qualifiers: *Ballard, Glenwood, Denison-Schleswig, *Dubuque Wahlert, Grinnell, Benton Community, *Pella, Dallas Center-Grimes, North Polk, *Humboldt, Spencer, Sioux City Heelan, *Decorah, Anamosa, Charles City

Individual district champions: Raegan Andersen, Jr., Denison-Schleswig; Adrianna Katcher, Soph., Center Point-Urbana; Amelia Lesher, Sr., North Polk; Bryce Gidel, Soph., Humboldt; Katie Nimrod, Sr., Decorah.

2016 Team Top-Five: 1. Decorah 102; 2. Pella 106; 3. Charles City 135; 4. Sioux City Heelan 144; 5. Dubuque Wahlert 147.

Last 5 Team Champions: 2016 – Decorah; 2015 – Davenport Assumption; 2014 – Decorah; 2013 – Decorah; 2012 – Decorah.

Returning state placers: 1. Adrianna Katcher, Soph., Center Point-Urbana; 3. Julia Schumacher, Sr., Davenport Assumption; 5. Sophia Gilbert, Sr., Benton Community; 6. Raegan Andersen, Jr., Denison-Schleswig; 9. Kourtney Delperdang, Jr., Spirit Lake; 10. Mary Blanchard, Soph., Grinnell; 11. Aubrie Fisher, Jr., Iowa Falls; 12. Megan Sievers, Jr., Carlisle; 14. Amber Aesoph, Soph., Sioux City Heelan; 15. Isabella Luu, Jr., Humboldt.

Area Individual qualifiers: Kiersten Conway, Fr., Solon; Camille Mac, Fr., Liberty High.

Top ranked teams: 1. Dubuque Wahlert; 2. Decorah; 3. Humboldt; 4. Pella; 5. Ballard.

Top ranked individuals: 1. Adrianna Katcher, Soph., Center Point-Urbana; 2. Mary Blanchard, Soph., Grinnell; 3. Bryce Gidel, Soph., Humboldt; 4. Katie Nimrod, Sr., Decorah; 5. Gabby Moran, Fr., Dubuque Wahlert.

Ranked Area individuals: 24. Kiersten Conway, Fr., Solon; 25. Camille Mac, Fr., Liberty High

Breakdown: Defending champion Decorah has won four of the last five 3A titles and should battle top-ranked Dubuque Wahlert for another 3A crown.

Center Point-Urbana sophomore Adrianna Katcher is the favorite to win her second straight individual title after winning the 3A crown by more than 12 seconds a year ago.

A pair of area freshman could push towards medals in their state meet debuts as Solon freshman Kiersten Conway and Liberty High freshman Camille Mac both enter ranked in the top 25 after strong performances at a loaded state qualifying meet.

*-State Qualifying Meet Champion