Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

City High

Coach: Ryan Ahlers (9^th season)

Assistant coaches: Hanna Collins; Katie Priske; Micah Poellet; Katie Rygh; Angel Wilford

Last season: 8^th at Class 4A State Meet

Returning letterwinners: Abigail Burns, Sr.; Grace Hamann, Jr.; Eliza Doster, Soph.; Calissa Fruin, Soph.; Claire Locher, Sr.; Madeline Fischer, Jr.; Naomi Downing-Sherer; Lucy Sherburne, Jr.; Camille Leman, Soph.

Newcomers to watch: Charlotte Doran, Fr.

Headliner: Senior Abigail Burns is the unquestioned leader for the Little Hawks after a huge junior season in which she emerged as one of the top runners in the state. Burns opens the season 16^th in the Class 4A preseason rankings by the Iowa Association of Track Coaches and will look to improve on a stellar junior season in which she finished in the top six at the Mississippi Valley Conference Super Meet and Mississippi Divisional and 4A state qualifier before placing 24^th at the state meet in a career-best time of 18:51.1.

Keep an eye on: Already a three-year varsity runner, junior Grace Hamann is coming off a breakthrough sophomore season in which she finished 10^th at the MVC Super Meet, eighth at the 4A state qualifier and a career-best 30^th at the 4A state meet in 18:55.6. Hamann enters the season 20^th in the 4A preseason rankings by the IATC.

Ready for a breakthrough: Forget about being the biggest breakthrough on the City High roster sophomore Eliza Doster might just be one of the best breakout runners in Class 4A this fall and enters the season ranked 23^rd in the IATC preseason rankings. Look for Doster to build on the momentum of a strong debut season that was capped by a 35^th place finish at the Class 4A state meet in a time of 19:10.4.

Circle the date: October 9 at Mississippi Valley Conference Super Meet. City High has a short drive to Kickers Soccer Complex for the MVC Super Meet where the Little Hawks will look to match their runner-up finish from a year ago.

Breakdown: City High has finished eighth at the Class 4A state meet each of the past two seasons but is poised to make a big jump this season and should push for a top five finish and even a spot on the balcony in Fort Dodge.

City High returns five runners from last year’s team that placed eighth at state and is ranked fifth in 4A in the IATC preseason rankings.

Burns, Hamann and Doster headline the list of City High returns along with senior Claire Locher and sophomore Calissa Fruin.

Fruin finished 96^th at the state meet last season in 20:22.4 while Locker was 99^th in a time of 20:32.2.

West High

Coach: Mike Parker (31^st season)

Assistant coaches: Tom Davidson; Brittany McConnell; Megan Boehme

Last season: 5^th at Class 4A State Qualifying Meet

Returning letterwinners: Kate Van Waning, Sr.; Susanna Olson, Jr.; Mia Ahn, Soph.; Savannah Mathias, Soph.

Newcomers to watch: Ava Twait, Fr.; Ellie DeWaard, Fr.; Carly Moreau, Fr.; Adrienne Hodge, Fr.

Headliner: Senior Kate Van Waning returns as the leader for a West High squad loaded with young talent. Van Waning is a two-time state qualifier coming off the best season of her career that included career-best finishes at the state qualifying meet and 4A state meet. Van Waning was ninth at the 4A state qualifier and finished 87^th at the 4A state meet in 20:11.2

Keep an eye on: Another two-time state qualifier, junior Susanna Olson will push Van Waning at the front of the West High pack this season.

Olson finished 73^rd at the 4A state meet two seasons ago and was 94^th at the state meet last season after finishing 1^st at the MVC Valley Divisional and 20^th at the 4A state qualifying meet.

Ready for a breakthrough: Sophomore Mia Ahn will look to build on a strong finish to her freshman season that included 35^th place finishes at both the MVC Divisional Meet and Class 4A state qualifier. After placing 72^nd at the MVC Super Meet, Ahn was 35^th at the Mississippi Divisional and 35^th at the 4A state qualifier in 22:13.6.

Circle the date: September 6 at Pleasant Valley Spartan Cross Country Challenge. A young West High squad will get its first major test early in the season at it travels to Crow Creek Park in Bettendorf to face a strong field that features five top-10 ranked teams led by top-ranked Johnston, second-ranked Pleasant Valley and No. 5 City High.

Breakdown: With three of its top four runners from last season returning along with sophomore Savannah Mathias and a strong group of freshmen West High is a team capable of making a big jump this season.

Van Waning and Olson will lead the way along with Ahn and Mathias who dealt with injuries during her freshman season.

Mix in a strong group of freshmen and veteran coach Mike Parker has high expectations for this year’s team.

Liberty High

Coach: Leah Wiseman (2^nd season)

Assistant coaches: Deb Carlson; Andrew Rompot

Last season: 5^th at Class 4A state qualifying meet.

Returning letterwinners: Elsie Bisgard, Soph.; Nora Brown, Sr.; Carleigh Maher, Sr.; Chelsea VeDepo, Jr.  

Newcomers to watch: Ella Lambi, Fr.; Aleah Williams, Fr.; Eleanor Johnson, Fr.; Kenzie Maher, Fr.; Gabbi Swift, Fr.; Ayla Trolliet, Fr.; Isabel Madsen, Fr.

Headliner: Junior Chelsea VeDepo returns to lead the Lightning after a breakthrough sophomore season that was capped by a top-60 finish at the 4A state meet.

VeDepo finished in the top 20 at the MVC Super Meet, MVC Divisional and 4A state qualifying meet before placing 56^th at the 4A state meet in 19:31.6.

Keep an eye on: Senior Carleigh Maher was a consistent performer that was at her best late in the season last fall and will look to be a strong front of the pack leader for the Lightning this season. Maher was 58^th at the MVC Super Meet before finishing 26^th at the MVC Mississippi Divisional and 42^nd at the state qualifier.

Ready for a breakthrough: Look for a big-time breakthrough from sophomore Elsie Bisgard who was a consistent top four finisher for the Lightning during a strong freshman campaign. Bisgard finished 23^rd at the MVC Mississippi Divisional and 25^th at the Class 4A state qualifier in a time of 20:42.6.

Circle the date: October 2 at Bud and Bonnie Williams Invitational at Kicker Soccer Park. A week before the MVC Super Meet the Lightning get a good tune up on the same course against a field that features ranked teams in Pleasant Valley, City High, Dubuque Senior, Dubuque Hempstead and Cedar Rapids Prairie.

Breakdown: A solid group of returners will be boosted by a deep and talented class of freshmen as Liberty High looks to improve on last season.

VeDepo, Bisgard, Maher and senior Nora Brown give the Lightning a solid foundation of returning experience.

Head coach Leah Wiseman is excited about a freshman class that includes Ella Lambi and Aleah Williams who could each jump immediately into the lineup.

Clear Creek Amana  

Coach: Ben Robison (11^th season)

Assistant coaches: Nick Boeset; Laurel Keenan; Mark Eberly

Last season: 4^th at Class 3A state qualifying meet

Returning letterwinners: Holley Schulte, Jr.; Kadence Whitmer, Jr.; Kiera Rosenberg, Soph.

Headliner: Junior Kadence Whitmer is the most experienced runner on a young Clear Creek Amana roster and will be looked to lead the Clippers after a strong sophomore season.

A member of the Clippers’ state meet squad in 2023, Whitmer finished in the top 25 at both the WAMAC Conference Meet and 3A state qualifier last season.

Ready for a breakthrough: Sophomore Keira Rosenberg will look to take a big step forward this fall after coming on strong at the end of her debut season a year ago.

Rosenberg finished 41^st at WAMAC Meet in 22:36.3 and made a big time cut while placing 29^th at the Class 3A state qualifying meet in 20:48.

Circle the date: August 30 at Cedar Rapids Prairie Cross Country Meet. There is no easing into the season for the Clippers who open the year at a Cedar Rapids Prairie meet that features ranked 4A teams Cedar Rapids Prairie and Linn-Mar as well as 3A top-ranked Pella.

Breakdown: Clear Creek Amana narrowly missed a second consecutive state meet appearance last season finishing fourth at the 3A state qualifier.

The Clippers graduated five seniors from last year’s squad that was fourth at the WAMAC Conference meet and will be in a rebuilding mode this season.

Whitmer and Rosenberg headline the list of returning runners with experience along with sophomore Holley Schulte.

Solon

Coach: Emy Williams (24^th season)

Assistant coaches: Michelle Lyons; Brian Fitzpatrick; Katie Courtney

Last season: 4^th at Class 3A State Meet

Returning letterwinners: Mya Fordice, Jr.; Ava Rolwes, Jr.; Falyn Svalstad, Jr.; Quinn Armentrout, Soph.; Kinley Mai, Soph.; Addison Seamans, Soph.; Liv Nelson, Soph.

Headliner: Sophomore Kinley Mai will look to take a step forward this season following an impressive debut campaign that closed with a top-50 finish at the 3A state meet.

In her first season of varsity action Mai finished sixth at the WAMAC Conference Meet and was eighth at the 3A state qualifier before finishing 50^th at the 3A state meet in 20:03.

Keep an eye on: Sophomore Liv Nelson was a consistent front of the pack runner for the Spartans last season and closed the year with back-to-back top-20 finishes at the WAMAC Conference Meet (9^th) and 3A state qualifier (18^th) before placing 68^th at the 3A state meet in a time of 20:33.3.

Ready for a breakthrough: Another talented sophomore for the Spartans, Addison Seamans came on strong at the end of last season running perhaps her best race of the year in Fort Dodge.

Seamans was 33^rd at the WAMAC Conference meet before closing the season with a 17^th place finish at the 3A state qualifier and a 54^th place performance at the 3A state meet in a time of 20:07.1.

Circle the date: October 16 at WAMAC Conference Meet at Seminole Valley Park. Solon was runner-up to rival Mount Vernon-Lisbon at the WAMAC Conference meet a year ago and should once again be in the race for a conference title.

Breakdown: Solon was fourth at the Class 3A state meet last season and opens 2025 ranked fourth in Class 3A in the IATC preseason rankings.

With five runners from last year’s fourth-place team returning there is plenty of optimism the Spartans can push for a spot on the balcony in Fort Dodge again this fall.

Sophomores Mai, Seamans and Nelson lead the way while juniors Mya Fordice, Ava Rolwes and Falyn Svalstad all return with two years of varsity experience.

Rolwes and Svalstad are both two-time state qualifiers that have helped the Spartans to consecutive top-eight finishes at state.

Regina

Coach: Chad Swope (16^th season)

Assistant coaches: Bailey Kammerer, Mya Whitaker

Last season: 3^rd at Class 1A State Qualifying Meet

Returning letterwinners: Harper Erwin, Sr.; Ellie Johnson, Sr.; Ruby Eastman, Sr.; Adeline Smith, Soph., Etta Winders, Soph.

Newcomers to watch: Josie Hartzler, Soph.; Betsy Gavin, Soph.; Marina Andrade, Soph.; Ciara Goldsmith, Fr.; Sofia Contreras, Fr.; Caroline O’Rourke, Fr.; Nadia Holden, Fr.; Claire Troll, Fr.; Lorelai Onken, Fr.

Headliner: A three-year varsity regular senior Harper Erwin is coming off the best season of her career last fall when she led Regina by placing 28^th at the River Valley Conference meet in 22:33.1 and was 13^th at the 1A state qualifying meet in 22:23.8.

Keep an eye on: A four-year varsity runner senior Ruby Eastman joins Erwin as front of the pack leaders for the Regals after placing 31^st at the River Valley Conference meet and 14^th at the Class 1A state qualifier in a time of 22:27.8 last season.

Ready for a breakthrough: The more Etta Winders ran last season the better she got. Look for a breakout season from Winders this fall after she was the third Regal finisher at both the River Valley Conference Meet (40^th in 23:19.7) and the 1A state qualifier (19^th in 23:02.1).

Circle the date: October 14 River Valley Conference Meet. Regina hosts the always strong River Valley Conference Meet at Kickers Soccer Complex in Iowa City as its final tune up before the postseason begins. Regina was eighth at the 16-team conference meet last season and will look to improve on that performance this fall.

Breakdown: Regina narrowly missed a return trip to the state meet last season finishing third at the Class 1A state qualifying meet, six points behind runner-up Danville.

The Regals should be a strong contender to earn a spot at the state meet in Fort Dodge this season with four runners from last year’s team returning including the top three finishers at each of the final two meets of the season.

Seniors Erwin and Eastman headline the list of returners along with Winders and senior Ellie Johnson who finished 31^st at the 1A state qualifier in a time of 24:13.3.

Sophomore Adeline Smith also returns with experience to bolster a strong Regina group of returners.

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