Three area runners will represent their school at the Class 1A state cross country meet this afternoon in Fort Dodge. Gavin Bencze of Winfield-Mount Union, Turner Klein of Keota, and Levi Geyer of Iowa Mennonite School earned spots in today’s final race of the season by finishing in the top 15 at the state qualifying race on October 20 in Cedar Rapids.

Bencze, this week’s KCII Hedge Above Lawncare Athlete of the Week, will compete in the state meet for a third straight season after a top-five finish in Cedar Rapids. His time of 16:57.99 was the fourth fastest. Bencze finished in the top 25 at the state meet each of the last two seasons. He ranked 22nd his sophomore season and placed 17th last year.

Klein and Geyer are running in the state meet for the first time. Klein finished two seconds behind Bencze, taking seventh place overall. Geyer’s time was clocked at 17:17, the 13th best performance.

Bencze and Klein find themselves in the Iowa Association of Track Coaches final individual rankings. Bencze is slated as the 11th best runner in Class 1A, while Klein ranks 30th. The first 15 runners across the finish line today will earn a medal. The Class 1A boys race is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. at the Lakeside Municipal Golf Course in Fort Dodge.