Iowa high school cross country 2018: Girls' area teams to watch

Area girls' cross country teams to watch for the 2018 season:

Cascade

Coach: Bob Davidshofer

2017 state finish: 5th in Class 2A

Returning state runners (7): Madeline Rhomberg, sr., 6th; Madison Kelchen, sr., 15th; Emma Ostwinkle, soph., 33rd; Rachel Rhomberg, soph., 68th; Shannon Morris, soph., 99th; Marie Knepper, sr., 101st; Skylar Dolphin, jr., 129th.

Lansing Kee

Coach: Pat Wagner

2017 state finish: 3rd in Class 1A

Returning state runners (5): Katie Brennan, sr., 19th; Makayla Walleser, sr., 57th; Makayla Peters, jr., 58th; Rachel Walleser, jr., 63rd; Laura Colsch, jr., 143rd.

Linn-Mar

Coach: Todd Goodell

2017 state finish: 7th in Class 4A

Returning state runners (5): Lilly Geelan, soph., 10th; Micah Poellet, soph., 16th; Chloe Skidmore, soph., 43rd; Sarah Murphy, soph., 112th; A.J. Kendrick, sr., 115th.

Mid-Prairie

Coach: Mark Hostetler

2017 state finish: Class 2A state champion

Returning state runners (6): Marie Hostetler, jr., 1st; Ana Fleming, soph., 10th; Moriah Brase, sr., 37th; Kate Cavanaugh, sr., 38th; Abbagail Evans, jr., 45th; Kessa Jones, sr., 55th.

South Winneshiek

Coach: Kevin Kearney

2017 state finish: 5th in Class 1A

Returning state runners (6): Melissa Ward, sr., 53rd; Sami Bohr, sr., 59th; Ashley Kriener, sr., 72nd; Jenna Knutson, sr., 94th; Olivia Massman, sr., 98th; Mariah Durham, sr., 101st.

Williamsburg

Coach: Nick Nordheim

2017 state finish: 6th in Class 2A

Returning state runners (6): Megan Rathjen, jr., 24th; Grace Schaefer, jr., 27th; Charlotte Wetjen, soph., 65th; Kaitlin Wille, sr., 70th; Emily Jensen, sr., 81st; Megan Lamparek, soph., 120th.

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com