State cross country capsules

FORT DODGE — The 2015 state cross country meet is Saturday at Lakeside Golf Course.

Here's a primer on the meet:

CLASS 4A GIRLS

Time — 11 a.m.

Individuals to watch — The favorite is a runner that didn't compete last year. Pleasant Valley's McKenzie Yanek was part of a team-wide food-poisoning epidemic. She ran in 17:57 at the Pleasant Valley regional, won by 57 seconds and is the hands-down runner to beat. The top two returning runners from last year are Bailey Nock of Iowa City West (third) and Brina Kraft of Muscatine (fourth). They ran third and fifth at the Cedar Rapids regional, behind a pair of Metro runners — freshman Reagan Gorman of Cedar Rapids Washington and Hannah Fusselman of Cedar Rapids Kennedy were 1-2. That vaults them into the list of contenders. Also watch Julia Noah of Urbandale and Jessica McKee of Johnston.

The team race — Start with Central Iowa suburban neighbors Johnston and Urbandale, who went 1-2 at state last year and probably will do the same Saturday. Johnston brings back five runners from its championship team from a year ago, and Urbandale didn't graduate any. Any competition outside of those two likely will come from the Mississippi Athletic Conference. Bettendorf is vastly improved from last year's 12th-place squad, edging Pleasant Valley by six points at the PV regional. Muscatine edged Iowa City West by six points at Seminole Valley.

How they'll finish — 1. Johnston, 2. Urbandale, 3. Bettendorf, 4. Pleasant Valley, 5. Muscatine.

CLASS 4A BOYS

Time — 11:30 a.m.

Individuals to watch — Ryan Schweizer of West Des Moines Dowling is coming off a runner-up finish last season, and ran an impressive 15:51 at the Lewis Central district to lead the Maroons' 1-2-3-4 charge. Patrick Bose of Johnston was third at state in 2014 and ran the fastest district time (15:36). Four Metro runners return after top-10 state runs last year. Jake Moore and Tysen VanDraska of Cedar Rapids Prairie were fourth and seventh; Linn-Mar's Michael Mather and Ryan Murphy were eighth and 10th. VanDraska probably has the best shot of the four to make a title push; he ran 15:40 and led the field at the district at Seminole Valley Park.

The team race — Four teams dominated their districts, and those four teams will battle for the championship Saturday. West Des Moines Dowling had the top four runners at the Lewis Central and scored just 20 points. Cedar Falls has been the best team in the Missisippi Valley Conference all season and won on its home course handily at districts. The 2014 runner-up, Cedar Rapids Prairie is making its typical late surge, going 1-2-3-6 in a 22-point masterpiece at Seminole Valley, and Pleasant Valley won its home district with 26 points and a 1-2-3 finish at the front. Any of them could prevail, but we'll go with the squad that has traditionally peaked at state week, and that's Prairie.

How they'll finish — 1. Cedar Rapids Prairie, 2. Cedar Falls, 3. West Des Moines Dowling, 4. Pleasant Valley, 5. Linn-Mar.

CLASS 3A GIRLS

Time — Noon

Individuals to watch — After a 21st-place finish last year, Maddie Bach of Marion has put herself into good position to challenge for the title. The senior ran a superb race at the Fairfield region, posting a time of 18:20 amd handily outrunning Joy Ripslinger of Davenport Assumption, an elite runner who placed third at state last year. Abby Kohut-Jackson of Ballard was the runner-up in 2014 and built a 37-second margin of victory at the Gilbert region. Lexi Smith of Dallas Center-Grimes was 11th last year as a freshman, ran 19:08 at the Glenwood region and won it by more than a half-minute.

The team race — Three-time defending champ Decorah captured the last two titles by a tie-breaker (in 2013) and by three points (in 2014), but will need a remarkable race to retain its crown. The Vikings were third — albeit a close third — to Dubuque Wahlert and Vinton-Shellsburg at their home region last week. With nobody graduated from last year's third-place team, Davenport Assumption has looked like the favorite all season, and the Knights did nothing to disspell that last week, claiming the title handily at the Fairfield regional. Pella was sixth last year and prevailed in a strong field at the Gilbert regional.

How they'll finish — 1. Davenport Assumption, 2. Pella, 3. Dubuque Wahlert, 4. Decorah, 5. Vinton-Shellsburg.

CLASS 3A BOYS

Time — 12:30 p.m.

Individuals to watch — Mount Pleasant junior Logan Murray returns after a third-place finish in 2014, and returns as the favorite. Murray blistered the course at Fairfield last week, covering it in 15:29 and winning by 27 seconds. Reid Smock leads a host of strong runners from Mount Vernon-Lisbon. Smock captured the individual title in 16:28 at Decorah, with three of his teammates within 12 seconds. Smock was eighth last year. Myles Bach and Jeremy Fopma give Marion a pair of potential front-runners. Cooper McDermott of Creston was 13th last year and won a close race last week at Glenwood.

The team race — Mount Vernon-Lisbon finished five points behind Gilbert in last year's race, and is the heir apparent to the throne. The Mustangs swept the top four spots at the Decorah district and scored just 22 points. Pella and Grinnell were third and fourth at state last year and ran 1-2, separated by four points, at the Gilbert district. Dallas Center-Grimes brings back its top four runners from a seventh-place run last year. Mount Pleasant won a close race at the Fairfield district. Marion and Cedar Rapids Xavier both are potential top-five contenders.

How they'll finish — 1. Mount Vernon-Lisbon, 2. Pella, 3. Grinnell, 4. Dallas Center-Grimes, 5. Mount Pleasant.

CLASS 2A GIRLS

Time — 1 p.m.

Individuals to watch — Eight of the top 10 runners from last year are back, led by defending champion Paige Holub of Monticello, a sophomore. Holub received a stern challenge at the regional at Monticello, winning in 19:22. Becca McDermott, a junior at Cascade, is a two-time runner-up. She was third at the Monticello regional (Josie Kriener of South Winneshiek was second). Also returning are Osage's sophomore duo of Ellie Friesen (third last year) and Megan Mooberry. And throw Shelby Reicks of South Winneshiek into the mix. Reicks was third in 1A last year for Turkey Valley; South Winn and Turkey Valley now run a combined program.

The team race — Monticello won the title last year with a remarkably young lineup that featured five freshmen, led by Holub. This has the potential to become a dynasty, but the Panthers aren't shoo-ins Saturday. They won their regional on their home course last week, but the top three teams (Monticello, Cascade and South Winneshiek) were separated by just eight points. South Winn might have the strongest top three with Kriener, Felicity Taylor and Reicks. Monticello, Cascade and Osage combine to bring back 19 of 20 runners from their teams that finished 1-2-3 last year.

How they'll finish — 1. Monticello, 2. Cascade, 3. Osage, 4. South Winneshiek, 5. Pocahontas Area.

CLASS 2A BOYS

Time — 1:30 p.m.

Individuals to watch — It's a veteran field of contenders. Chase Smith of Garner-Hayfield/Ventura was the runner-up last year and captured the district title at Orange City in 15:45, beating the field by 24 seconds. Danny Halva of North Fayette Valley, John Crew of Dike-New Hartford and Matt Manternach of Monticello were top-five competitors a year ago. Manternach edged Halva by 16 seconds at the Monticello district. Crew was third at a Dike district won by Aplington-Parkersburg's C.J. May in 15:56. May was seventh last year.

The team race — Monticello captured three straight titles from 2011 through 2013, but that run was interrupted last year by East Marshall. The Panthers are slight favorites to regain their throne, though Garner-Hayfield/Ventura and Unity Christian are viable threats. Neither Monticello nor GHV graduated any of its top seven from last year, and Unity brings back its top four. The Panthers ran 1-3-4-8 at the Monticello district, scored 32 points and won by 74. GHV edged Unity, 43-47, for the title at the Orange City district.

How they'll finish — 1. Monticello, 2. Garner-Hayfield/Ventura, 3. Unity Christian, 4. Mid-Prairie, 5. Clear Lake.

CLASS 1A GIRLS

Time — 2 p.m.

Individuals to watch — Rebekah Topham's historical run is over. After becoming the state's first four-time girls' champion, the former Griswold ace is at Wichita State. There's no shortage of star power in this race, though. Durant's Alyssa Williams was a modest 28th last year, but has grown into an elite runner and a title hopeful. The senior breezed to the title at Seminole Valley Park last week in 18:26, 46 seconds ahead of Camryn Reeg of Bellevue, last year's seventh-place state finisher. Gwynne Wright of Pekin is the returning runner-up and also won easily at regionals, finishing in 19:07 and building a 47-second cushion.

The team race — With 2014 champion Pocahontas Area up to 2A, anything other than a Pekin championship would be a major surprise. The Panthers didn't graduate any of their top seven runners, and five of them scored in the top 10 at a regional meet at Ankeny. Elkader Central was the champion at the Seminole Valley regional, winning by 36 points with a veteran lineup. West Fork and North-Linn were 1-2 at the Cedar Falls district, and both figure to be top-five teams.

How they'll finish — 1. Pekin, 2. Elkader Central, 3. West Fork, 4. North-Linn, 5. Mason City Newman.

CLASS 1A BOYS

Time — 2:30 p.m.

Individuals to watch — Andrew Meyer of Bellevue placed third last year and appears poised to reach the pinnacle Saturday. The senior completed the course at Seminole Valley Park in 16:10, outrunning teammate Andrew Segalla by 17 seconds. North Union's Riley Bauer ran sixth at state in 2014 and posted an impressive district performance at Hawarden. Shane Breheny of Nodaway Valley is another contender, running 16:38 in a winning effort at districts, and placed seventh at state last year.

The team race — What a storyline this could be. Regina's season ended before the district meet last year, a disqualification casualty because the Regals ran on the course in the days preceding the meet. They're poised for full redemption this year after running to the district title at Seminole Valley, outrunning defending state champion Bellevue. The Regals and the Comets are two 1A contenders. Nodaway Valley is another, returning the entire lineup after a fourth-place state finish in 2014. All five of Nodaway's scorers were in the top 15 at the Treynor district, and it scored a mere 35 points and won by 68.

How they'll finish — 1. Iowa City Regina, 2. Bellevue, 3. Nodaway Valley, 4. Denver, 5. Hudson.

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