Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports  

The start of the cross country season is right around the corner.

Athletes have been training all summer, logging miles in preparation for the three-month prep season that begins with the start of officially practices on August 9^th and concludes with the two-day state meet scheduled for October 29 and 30 at Lakeside Golf Course in Fort Dodge.

Once again the Your Prep Sports area will feature some of the top teams and best individuals in the state.

West High, Liberty High, City High and Solon all qualified for the state meet last season with Solon, City High and Liberty High posting top-10 finishes.

Before the season gets underway Your Prep Sports offers seven area runners to watch during the 2021 season.

Alex McKane

Senior, West High

Already a three-time state qualifier McKane made the climb into the group of the state’s elite last season earning his first career state medal with an 11^th place finish at the Class 4A meet.

After placing 68^th as a freshman and 32^nd as a sophomore McKane jumped all the way into the top-15 last season missing a spot in the top-10 by .03.

McKane ran 16:15.6 at the state meet, which ranks as the fifth fastest time among returning runners in 4A.

Ford Washburn

Junior, City High

One of only two underclassmen to earn a medal at the Class 4A state meet last season Washburn continued his rapid ascent toward the top of the state cross country charts with a sixth-place finish in Fort Dodge.

Washburn backed up a 20^th place performance as a freshman with his first state medal last season in a time of 16:11.2 joining West Des Moines Dowling sophomore Jackson Heidesch who was third as the only underclassmen to claim medals in 4A.

Truman Thompson

Junior, City High

One of four sophomores that were among the top six finishers for City High at the state meet last season Thompson teamed with Washburn, Noah Carey and Ammon Smith to give the Little Hawks one of the most talented young lineups in the state.

Thompson finished 19^th in his debut performance at the 4A state meet last season and his time of 16:26.1 was a little more than seven seconds off of the top-15 medal pace.

Aidan Decker

Sophomore, Liberty High

Decker excelled as a rookie in a loaded Liberty High lineup filled with veterans last season posting an impressive debut season that included an eighth-place finish at the state qualifier and a top-40 finish at state.

In his first state meet experience Decker placed 36^th in a time of 16:44.5 helping the Lightning to a program-best sixth-place team finish.

The 36^th place finish was third best among freshmen at the 4A state meet.

Gabe Hinman

Senior, Solon

The veteran on a strong group of returning Spartan runners Hinman is seeking a fourth consecutive trip to the state meet.

Hinman has improved his state meet performance each of the past three seasons going from 46^th as a freshman to 35^th as a sophomore before placing 24^th last season while helping Solon to a runner-up team finish.

Gavin Zillyette

Senior, Clear Creek Amana

Clear Creek Amana has had a state medalist each of the past three seasons and Zillyette appears poised to be the next in a growing line of Clippers to secure balcony spots at Lakeside Golf Course in Fort Dodge.

A three-time state qualifier Zillyette has improved his state-meet finish each of the past three season.

Zillyette was 76^th as a freshman and jumped to 34^th two years ago before finishing 22^nd at the 3A state meet in a time of 16:58.3 last fall.

Brick Kabela

Sophomore, Solon

Kabela burst onto the scene last fall helping Solon win WAMAC Conference and state qualifying meet titles before finishing runner-up at the Class 3A state meet.

In his first varsity season Kabela placed 11^th at the WAMAC meet, 10^th at the state qualifier and 26^th at the state meet in a time of 17:03.1.

The 26^th place finish by Kabela at state was the third best finish for a freshman at the 3A field.

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