Boys’ cross country 2016: Area teams to watch

Area boys' cross country teams to watch for the 2016 season:

CEDAR RAPIDS PRAIRIE

• Coach — Bill Schwarz

• 2015 state finish — 3rd in Class 4A

• State returners (4) — Cam Steffens (sr.), Colton LaGrange (soph.), Matt Lorenz (sr.), Elijah Vlasek (jr.)

DECORAH

• Coach — Brad Johansen

• 2015 state finish — 5th in Class 3A

• State returners (5) — Andrew Kephart (jr.), Richard Weis (sr.), Gus Hayes (soph.), Tyler Vandelune (jr.), Jackson Varney (jr.)

IOWA CITY WEST

• Coach — Brian Martz

• 2015 state finish — 8th in Class 4A

• State returners (5) — Kolby Greiner (soph.), Ali Ali (sr.), Andrew Murley (sr.), Jared Bailey (jr.), Kyle Sulwer (jr.)

More: Boys' cross country runners to watch

LINN-MAR

• Coach — Todd Goodell

• 2015 state finish — 7th in Class 4A

• State returners (5) — Ryan Murphy (sr.), Colin Johnston (jr.), Dalton Gosch (sr.), Carter Lorenz (sr.), Brycen Snell (jr.)

MID-PRAIRIE

• Coach — Mark Hostetler

• 2015 state finish — 4th in Class 2A

• State returners (5) — Peyton Miller (jr.), Floyd Evans (jr.), Andrew Schwartz (sr.), Brent Foster (sr.), Marshal Teets (jr.)

MOUNT VERNON-LISBON

• Coach — Kory Swart

• 2015 state finish — Class 3A champion

• State returners (5) — Chase McLaughlin (sr.), Jack Young (sr.), Thatcher Krob (jr.), Liam Conroy (sr.), Zach Krogmann (sr.)

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