Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

It’s day two of state qualifying meets.

In an effort to accommodate competition and crowds with COVID-19 precautions state qualifying meets were split into two days this fall with Class 3A and 4A teams opening the postseason.

Now it is time for the small schools to take center stage with state qualifiers cross the state in Classes 1A and 2A set for Thursday.

Another change in Class 1A this season in order to reduce attendance there will be eight state qualifiers rather than five.

The top two teams and top 10 individual finishers at each 1A qualifier will advance to the state meet.

The state meet will also be a two-day event and will be held at Lakeside Golf Course in Fort Dodge with Classes 3A and 4A competing on October 30 and Classes 1A and 2A running on October 31.

Class 1A State Qualifier

Girls Race

When: Thursday, 4 p.m.

Where: Wildwood Park in Ottumwa

Teams: Regina; Columbus; Hillcrest Academy; Fort Madison Holy Trinity; Keota; Mediapolis; Meskwaki Settlement School; Moravia; Moulton-Udell; North Mahaska; Pekin; Sigourney; Twin Cedars; Valley Lutheran; Van Buren Community; WACO; Wapello; Winfield-Mount Union

Ranked teams: No. 1 Regina; No. 2 Pekin

Ranked Individuals: No. 4 Annalee Bartels, Sr., Regina; No. 10. Lily Fariss, Soph., Pekin; No. 14 Rylee Dunkin, Soph., Twin Cedars; No. 19. Lauren Derscheld, Jr., Pekin; No. 24 Mya Whitaker, Soph., Regina; No. 26. Laure Steigleder, Fr., Pekin

Team title chase: It is a two-team race for the team title and it should be one of the best in all the state on Thursday as top-ranked Regina and No. 2 Pekin battle for the top spot.

Regina unseated Hudson for the top-spot in the 1A rankings after finishing in front of the Pirates at the North Linn Invitational on October 10.

A team title on Thursday would give the Regals head-to-head victories over two of the top contenders at the 1A state meet.

Both teams have front of the pack talent so depth should be the key on Thursday. Keep an eye on the third and fourth finishers for both teams especially Regina’s Natalie Franklin and Josie Pursley.

Athlete to watch: Regina senior Annalee Bartels is already a two-time state medalist that would like nothing more than to end her prep career with a team title.

Bartels is seeking the second state qualifying title of her career after earning the first ever individual title of her career at the 1A qualifier in Iowa City last season.

The senior standout will have her hands full on Thursday with Pekin sophomore Lily Fariss and Twin Cedars sophomore Rylee Dunkin the top challengers.

Breakdown: Regina can make a major statement and establish itself as the 1A favorite with title at the state qualifier on Thursday.

The top-ranked Regals have the top line talent in Bartels and sophomore Mya Whitaker and depth and experience to make a run at the state title.

First the Regals must take care of business on Thursday and can gain a confidence boost if it upends second-ranked and meet host Pekin for the title.

Boys Race

When: Wednesday, 4:30 p.m.

Where: Wildwood Park in Ottumwa

Teams: Regina; Columbus; Hillcrest Academy; Fort Madison Holy Trinity; Keota; Mediapolis; Meskwaki Settlement School; Moravia; Moulton-Udell; North Mahaska; Pekin; Sigourney; Twin Cedars; Valley Lutheran; Van Buren Community; WACO; Wapello; Winfield-Mount Union

Ranked teams: No. 6 Pekin; No. 8 Valley Lutheran

Ranked Individuals: No. 6 Brady Millikin, Sr., Pekin; No. 28 Isaac Natvig, Jr., Valley Lutheran

Team title chase: Pekin is seeking its 10^th straight trip to the state meet and is a heavy favorite to claim the team title on Thursday. The Panthers were 10^th at the state meet last season and haven’t missed out on a trip to the state meet since 2010.

The top challenger is upstart Valley Lutheran which is seeking its first ever trip to state.

Athlete to watch: Regina sophomore Joe Maley will be seeking a second straight trip to the state meet.

Maley followed up a ninth-place finish at the state qualifier last season with a 34^th place performance in his state meet debut.

Maley will be looking for a similar late-season surge this fall after placing 33^rd at the River Valley Conference meet last week.

Breakdown: Regina was fourth at the state qualifier last season and will need a strong showing on Thursday to match that performance.

Pekin senior Brady Millikin was sixth at the state meet last season and enters as the favorite with his top challenger likely Valley Lutheran junior Isaac Natvig.

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