Iowa boys XC predictions

Any Iowa girls predictions?

1. Dubuque Hempstead. Won state and returns everyone.
2. Ames. Returns everyone from the 3rd place finish.
3. Pleasant Valley. Placed second and returns everyone except for their #2
4. Johnston. Returns 4 of their top 6 + an 18:30 incoming freshman. Placed 4th last year.
5. Ankeny. Placed 6th and returns everyone

Speaking of Iowa City,
Many of you have them winning state.
They return 4 of their top 5 (Washburn, Thompson, Smith, and Carey). But they lost 3 other top 7 guys.

They will need a #5 (the most important position on the team) but the next group consists of at least 4 guys. Maybe one of those guys can pull that off, since 2 of them spent some time running some varsity races last year.

But whoever does pull that off will be a real MVP.

Girls predictions for individuals…
1. Addison Dorenkamp
2. Olivia Verde
3. Alyx Woodley (freshman)
4. Keelee Litzen
5. Julia Gehl

Macke of Ankeny and Helmers of Ames, as well as a few other freshmen (in addition to Woodley) could mix it up at the front. Dorenkamp just keeps improving. She will run very fast this season.

Nash has the most speed and has the best 5k PR while beating Washburn and Heidesh in the postseason last fall.

Well, if Iowa City could assemble an all star squad just from their 3 schools every year like Dowling does I think we know what the result would be. But, they get a pass.

I think they are only 1 guy away from an all-star squad.

As mentioned earlier they are returning 4 of their top 5-

Washburn, Thompson, Carey, and Smith.

One of those guys will need to step up and close the gap on their 4th man:

Noble, Maerker, Vanderlinden, or Bywater.

Or they can get an elite transfer.

An Iowa City all star team would have won state last year.

Sorry, but who gives an f about Iowa high schools

Iowa has some pretty good incoming freshman. Caleb Ten Pas, who appears to be headed to one of the Waukee high schools, has run 4:31 and 9:31 for the mile and 3200. Canaan Dunham, from Pella, has run 4:37 for the mile, and then Jaden Merrick, from Cedar Falls, ran 4:30's for the 1600 as a 7th grader and then ran 15:30 in cross country at Running Lane Nationals last year. He also has run under 16, against pretty good competition, in some summer 5k's both this summer and last summer. He didn't run much in track this year due to a minor injury.

I’m sure Dowling will get beat by Pleasant Valley in the future.

Middle School Championships 8th grade race:
Dowling Catholic had 3 in the top 8.
Pleasant Valley had 3 in the top 11.
https://onlineraceresults.com/race/view_plain_text.php?race_id=74004
7th grade race:
Pleasant Valley went 2,3,4,12,13,14
Dowling Catholic - 0 in the top 20.
https://onlineraceresults.com/race/view_plain_text.php?race_id=74003

Maybe PV will go to NXN at some point.

They would have made it in 2017, but Nick Yanek transferred to Milton which ended up 5th at NXR Southeast with him on the team.

Here’s to hoping Yanek had a good reason for moving. I’m sure it was not running related.

Iowa JH doesn't seem to track as closely to high school in Iowa as it should. Pleasant Valley and North Scott have some of the furthest drives to the state meet but typically do well for boys and girls.

Looks like Yanek had solid career at Georgia so maybe they moved for the instate deal that Georgia gives.

actually, Cedar Falls returns 3-6+ Merrick not 2-6

For Sioux City North…
Nash/Kifle is a solid 1-2. Butema is their #3 but he doesn’t do track. He does soccer instead.

Their 4-7 look even: Gomez/Kumbi/Schultz 1/Schultz 2. All ran between 18:10 and 18:30 though, so 2 of them need to step up to get this team to top 5.

Found an interesting story about City High:

thegazette.com

City High honors custodian who drowned saving child from river | The Gazette

The Gazette

City High School in Iowa City will put up a plaque to honor a man who drowned while saving a child from the Iowa River Friday. The man, Wegayewu Faris, had been a custodian at City High since 2005.

Link:www.thegazette.com/news/city-high-hono...

In case any of you are subscribed for this.

DCG is moving up to 4A but is NOT going to challenge for a title. They lost so many guys from last year.

DCG might not do much this year but they got a good team for next year.

Here’s who they return this year (you can tell they are all back next year)
18:13 (10:21) (10) - mora
16:46 (10:13) (11) - b every
10:31 (10) - arbuckle
16:24 (11) - McDermott
16:57 (2:04) (11) - agnus
16:52 in 2020 (11) - j every