Boys' cross country: Area teams to watch

Area boys' teams to watch for the 2017 cross country season:

CEDAR RAPIDS PRAIRIE

* Coach — Bill Schwarz

* 2016 state finish — 3rd in Class 4A

* Returning state runners (4) — Robert Laue, sr., 32nd; Max Laue, sr., 34th; Elijah Vlasek, sr., 37th; Colton LaGrange, jr., 99th

CEDAR RAPIDS WASHINGTON

* Coach — Will Harte

* 2016 state finish — 7th in Class 4A

* Returning state runners (4) — Max Locher, soph., 24th; Paul Schneidermann, jr., 36th; Lewis Kleman, soph., 74th; Caleb Kleman, sr., 109th

DECORAH

* Coach — Brad Johansen

* 2016 state finish — 7th in Class 3A

* Returning state runners (5) — Gus Hayes, jr., 15th; Andrew Kephart, sr., 39th; Spencer Peterson, soph., 63rd; Jackson Varney, sr., 64th; Jarod Phillips, sr., 73rd

MID-PRAIRIE

* Coach — Mark Hostetler

* 2016 state finish — Class 2A champion

* Returning state runners (5) — Peyton Miller, sr., 17th; Zach Pettit, sr., 19th; Floyd Evans, sr., 21st; Marshal Teets, sr., 45th; Quinn Schmidt, jr., 60th

SOUTH WINNESHIEK

* Coach — Scott Conway

* 2016 state finish — 7th in Class 2A

* Returning state runners (7) — Paxten DeVilbiss, sr., 31st; Derek Dietzenbach, sr., 44th; Paul Hageman, jr., 62nd; Jordon Snyder, sr., 68th; Eric Franzen, sr., 91st; Austin Tieskoetter, sr., 105th; Emmett Schwartzhoff, soph., 115th

STARMONT

* Coach — Charlie Gruman

* 2016 state finish — 6th in Class 1A

* Returning state runners (6) — Mitchell Hayes, sr., 27th; Graham Schuchmann, soph., 59th; Caleb Wittman, sr., 69th; Colt Gilson, sr., 75th; Carson Willie, sr., 84th; Henry Hahn, jr., 90th

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