The 2026 Iowa high school cross country season reaches its final sprint this weekend at Lakeside Golf Course in Fort Dodge, where the state meet runs on Friday and Saturday. Classes 1A and 2A kick off the competition on Friday, while Classes 3A and 4A conclude the weekend with their races on Saturday morning, according to Your Prep Sports.
Class 3A Girls Championship Standings
The Class 3A girls race is scheduled for 10.30 a.m. on Saturday at Lakeside Golf Course. Fifteen teams punched their tickets to Fort Dodge through state qualifying meets across Iowa, setting up a clash between defending champions and hungry challengers.
The field of qualifying teams includes Des Moines Christian, Clear Lake, Decorah, Sioux Center, ADM, MOC-Floyd Valley, Dubuque Wahlert, Solon, Mount Vernon-Lisbon, Williamsburg, Clear Creek Amana, Newton, Pella, North Polk, and Ballard.
Pella Pursues Fifth Consecutive Team Title
Pella enters the state meet as the heavy favorite to secure its fifth consecutive Class 3A team title. Last season, Pella captured the state crown by an 82-point margin over runner-up Des Moines Christian. Pella returns four runners from that championship roster, anchored by three top-10 individual finishers: Elsie Brenneman, who took fourth; Lizzy Vande Voort, seventh; and Ruth Dunham, ninth.
Pella has also added talented freshman Maechen Cowman, who enters the weekend ranked fifth individually, alongside 19th-ranked Elliana Hardman.
Behind the front-runners, the race for the remaining podium spots features several surging programs. Williamsburg captured the Washington state qualifier title and will battle second-ranked Des Moines Christian. Meanwhile, Dubuque Wahlert seized the championship at the Independence qualifier to break into the top five of the rankings, joining North Polk, Clear Creek Amana, and Solon in the hunt for top-five team finishes.
Individual Contenders Chase Mount Vernon-Lisbon Standout
At the top of the individual leaderboard, Mount Vernon-Lisbon senior Evelyn Moeller stands out as the runner to beat. An Iowa State recruit, Moeller has maintained dominant form all season and cruised to the individual title at the Independence qualifier with a time of 17:25.
A crowded chase pack looks to challenge the top-ranked senior. Pella’s Brenneman, who placed fourth last year, joins teammate Cowman, MOC-Floyd Valley senior Natalie Anderson (sixth last year), and Williamsburg freshman Harper Winegarden at the front of the field. Des Moines Christian junior Elyse Erzen, who finished fifth a year ago, rounds out the returning top-10 state placewinners alongside Vande Voort, Center Point-Urbana junior Aaliyah Causey, Dunham, and Harlan junior Ashlyn Rau.
Area Programs Bring Deep Postseason Experience
Solon makes its ninth consecutive state meet appearance, continuing one of the most consistent runs of success in the state. The Spartans have recorded seven straight top-10 finishes, including four top-five showings since 2020. Solon finished second at both the WAMAC Conference meet and the state qualifier, arriving in Fort Dodge with a veteran lineup.
Seniors Falyn Svalstad and Ava Rolwes lead Solon as four-time state qualifiers. Svalstad finished 17th at state last season, while juniors Liv Nelson and Addison Seamans make their third consecutive state meet appearances.
Clear Creek Amana returns to the state meet for the first time since 2023, carrying a No. 6 ranking following a runner-up finish at the Washington qualifier. Sophomore Ali Seidl returns with state meet experience, joined by freshman Keira Cooney in the 3A individual rankings.
