The 16th-ranked North Mahaska boys cross country team will have its chance to qualify for state next Thursday when they travel to Central Decatur in Leon for district competition. North Mahaska is the only boys’ team in the field that is ranked, but six runners in boys and girls’ field are ranked.
Eighteen schools are entered including perennial power Pekin. Two runners are ranked in the boy’s field. Ethan Haus of Collins-Maxwell is 16th while Vincent Carcemo of Central Decatur is 27th. North Mahaska’s Lane Harmon had been ranked in the top 30 in Class 1A during part of the season.
North Mahaska freshman Aly Steil will have to compete with a strong field for an opportunity to run at state. Pekin’s team is ranked sixth and is led by Chloe Glosser (6) and Lauren Steigleder (11). Rylee Dunkin of Twin Cedars (17) and Greenlee Smock (19) of Lynnville-Sully will be among the challengers.
North Mahaska’s boys have won three meets this season and finished high in every meet. The won the South Iowa Cedar League crown for a third time last week. Brayden Veiseth, Lane Harmon, Nate Sampson, Ben Yang, and Asher DeBoef have been the leaders. Mitchell Kincaid, Clay Thompson, Andy Knockel and Larry Mohr have consistently improved their times and positions for the Warhawks. Vanesa Murphy will be in the race with Steil.
The meet is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.