Tightly knit pack drives No. 1 Monticello

As the gap keeps shrinking, the hopes around the Monticello High School boys' cross country team continue to rise.

The Panthers head to Thursday's Class 2A district meet at West Union expecting to qualify for state for the 15th consecutive year. Getting there, this time, isn't enough.

"The kids have placed fifth each of the past three years," said Monticello Coach Dan Sauser. "They're kind of sick of fifth."

Monticello is ranked No. 1, according to the Iowa Association of Track Coaches.

Boys' districts and girls' regionals will be held statewide Thursday. Most of the meets begin at 4 p.m. for girls, 4:30 for boys.

The top three teams and the top 10 individuals from each site advance to the state meet Oct. 29 at Lakeside Golf Course, Fort Dodge.

Monticello has one state title from its long run of appearances, winning a 2A crown in 2007. This team might be better, according to Sauser.

"This is a highly motivated group of boys," he said. "They want to prove themselves. They motivate each other, and our top three guys try to outperform each other -- but in a good, competitive way."

Sophomores Michael Melchert and Ben Ahlrich and junior J.J. Frawley lead a pack that has grown continuously closer throughout the fall. At the beginning of the season, the gap between the top runner and the fifth runner was more than a minute. Now, it's about 35 seconds.

In Class 4A, Linn-Mar will take two highly ranked teams (the girls are rated second, the boys are fourth) to a meet at Marshalltown. Josh Evans is rated No. 2 among 4A boys; third-ranked Carolyn Newhouse leads three Linn-Mar girls in the top 11.

Defending 4A boys' state champion Cedar Rapids Prairie will accompany the Lions at Marshalltown, as will Iowa City West.

Cedar Rapids Washington (No. 5 in boys), Cedar Rapids Jefferson and Cedar Rapids Kennedy -- along with the Cedar Rapids Xavier girls -- are assigned to Birdsall Park in Cedar Falls, while Iowa City High is at Pleasant Valley.

In 3A, Marion and the Xavier boys will compete at Anamosa. So are the second-rated Solon girls, who feature 2010 2A state champion Lauren Benzing.

Other sites with area teams consist of Knoxville and Manchester in 3A, Ames, Fairfield and West Union in 2A and Dike, Knoxville and Wapello in 1A.

Brittany Frush of Union is the top-ranked 2A girl. She will compete at West Union.

Who's running where?

District/regional assignments