Iowa high school girls’ cross country 2023: Top Gazette area teams and individuals

A 2023 watch list for top area girls’ cross country teams and individuals:

8 area teams to watch

CENTER POINT-URBANA

2022 state finish: 10th in Class 3A

Returning state runners (6): Emma Wilkerson, sr., 14th; Lily Miller, soph., 28th; Deni Katcher, soph., 41st; Sydney McCormick, jr., 107th; Julia Payne, jr., 127th; Madison Bockenstedt, jr., 135th.

DYERSVILLE BECKMAN

2022 state finish: 4th in Class 2A

Returning state runners (4): Julia Mertz, sr., 10th; Madelyn Reiter, jr., 27th; Maria Kruse, sr., 54th; Maria Dudzik, sr., 93rd.

MID-PRAIRIE

2022 state finish: 5th in Class 2A

Returning state runners (5): Danielle Hostetler, sr., 1st; Abby Fleming, sr., 16th; Phoebe Shetler, sr., 44th; Dessa Poll, jr., 82nd; Greta Sieren, sr., 87th.

MOUNT VERNON-LISBON

2022 state finish: 4th in Class 3A

Returning state runners (4): Emrie Johnson, jr., 26th; Edith Dawson, soph., 42nd; Kiersten Swart, soph., 53rd; Hailey Bock, jr., 73rd.

NORTH LINN

2022 state finish: 8th in Class 1A

Returning state runners (7): Meghan Wheatley, sr., 8th; Bryn Collum, jr., 55th; Peyton McMahon, soph., 80th; Mackenzie Bridgewater, jr., 106th; Carly Ries, soph., 108th; Abby Michael, soph., 132nd; Carly Myers, sr., 140th.

TIPTON

2022 state finish: 6th in Class 2A

Returning state runners (6): Alivia Edens, sr., 33rd; Claire Montgomery, jr., 42nd; Laura Owen, jr., 51st; Addie Nerem, sr., 64th; Mack Walter, sr., 76th; Chloe Klabo, sr., 81st.

WASHINGTON (Iowa)

2022 state finish: 6th in Class 3A

Returning state runners (7): Iris Dahl, soph., 7th; Quincy Griffis, jr., 50th; Alyvia Anderson, jr., 68th; Lauren Horak, jr., 74th; Angeline Anderson, soph., 88th; Isabella Lujan, jr., 101st; Kendall Hinrichsen, jr., 105th.

WILLIAMSBURG

2022 state finish: Class 2A runner-up

Returning state runners (5): Zada Buchholtz, sr., 11th; Maelyn Parsons, jr., 29th; Analise DeWitt, soph., 35th; Ashlyn Hoffman, soph., 40th; Reagan McMenomy, sr., 105th.

The top 12 returning area individuals

Based on times and places at the 2022 state meet.

Danielle Hostetler, sr., Mid-Prairie — Class 2A champion (third consecutive), 18:41

Mackenzie Wilson, jr., Jesup — Placed 4th in Class 2A, 19:14

Iris Dahl, soph., Washington (Iowa) — Placed 7th in Class 3A, 19:20

Meghan Wheatley, sr., North Linn — Placed 8th in Class 1A, 19:26

Emma Wilkerson, sr., Center Point-Urbana — Placed 14th in Class 3A, 19:35

Ani Wedemeyer, jr., Iowa City High — Placed 27th in Class 4A, 19:38

Julia Mertz, sr., Dyersville Beckman — Placed 10th in Class 2A, 19:45

Zada Buchholtz, sr., Williamsburg — Placed 11th in Class 2A, 19:46

Hallie Kelchen, soph., Cascade — Placed 15th in Class 1A, 19:49

Abby Fleming, sr., Mid-Prairie — Placed 16th in Class 2A, 19:51

Keirra Hess, sr., Cedar Rapids Prairie — Placed 43rd in Class 4A, 19:58

Alyssa Klein, sr., Western Dubuque — Placed 22nd in Class 3A, 20:03

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com