Breaking Down the Area Class 1A Girls State Qualifying Cross Country Meets
Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports
The state cross country meet is just a week away.
Before teams, athletes and fans converge on Lakeside Golf Course in Fort Dodge on November 1st and 2nd the final spot at the state meet must be secured.
Classes 1A and 2A will hold state qualifying meets on Thursday with spots at the state meet up for grabs.
Before the races get underway on Thursday afternoon Your Prep Sports takes a quick look at the meets featuring area teams.
Class 1A Meet (Regina)
When: Thursday, 4 p.m.
Where: Kickers Soccer Complex in Iowa City
Teams: Regina; Dyersville Beckman; Bellevue; Calamus-Wheatland; Danville; Durant; Easton Valley; English Valleys; Louisa-Muscatine; Lone Tree; Bellevue Marquette; Midland; New London; North Cedar; Prince of Peace; Rivermont Collegiate; Van Buren; Wapello
Ranked teams: No. 4 English Valleys; No. 15 Danville; No. 20 Regina
Ranked individuals: No. 27 Alaina Gourley, Jr., Danville
Team title chase: Led by sophomores Aubrey and Addison Achenbach and freshman Anna Luers fourth-ranked English Valleys is the favorite and could factor into the mix for a top three spot at the state meet next week. Danville and Regina will battle the Bears in what should be a three-way race for the two qualifying spots.
Individual race: Danville junior Alaina Gourley was 66th at the state meet last season and is the only ranked runner in the field. Expect Gourley, Luers and the Achenbach’s to lead the pack on Thursday.
Athlete to watch: Regina senior Harper Erwin got valuable postseason experience last season and will attempt to lead the Regals back to the state meet on Thursday.
Erwin has emerged as the front of the pack leader for the Regals this season and is coming off a 28th place finish at the River Valley Conference meet last week.
Erwin is a bit under the radar in Class 1A thanks to Regina’s schedule but should be in for a strong performance on a familiar track on Thursday.
Breakdown: Rankings have Regina the third highest ranked team in the field at No. 20 but history says never count out the Regals in a state qualifying meet.
Regina has reached the state meet seven consecutive seasons and will have the luxury of running on its home course as it attempts to extend that streak on Thursday.
Erwin leads the way for Regina but the key for the Regals will be its balance.
Less than a minute separated Erwin (28th), junior Ruby Eastman (31st), freshman Etta Winders (40th) and senior Ali Brandt (41st) at the River Valley Conference meet last week on the same course.
If Regina can keep its pack tight on Thursday the Regals could be in good shape to return to Fort Dodge for an eighth year in a row.
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