Kennedy boys, Centennial girls are defending champs at Cedar Rapids Invitational

CEDAR RAPIDS — Defending champions Cedar Rapids Kennedy (boys) and Ankeny Centennial (girls) lead a large field at the Cedar Rapids Invitational cross country meet Thursday.

Competition begins at 3:45 p.m. at Seminole Valley Park.

The varsity races are at 4:50 (girls) and 5:20 (boys).

Kennedy is ranked No. 10 in the Class 4A boys’ rankings and is led by Adam Gray (rated seventh individually). Ankeny Centennial’s A.J. Schermerhorn is No. 4.

Centennial’s girls ran away with the title at Seminole last year and are led by Arika Mohrhauser, who placed third here in 2022 and is ranked No. 5 in 4A.

Twenty girls teams and 19 boys teams are entered.

Pleasant Valley’s girls are ranked No. 3, but the Spartans traditionally do not send their varsity teams to this meet. Grace Boleyn is the state’s top-ranked girl.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com