A season full of hard work culminates this evening for small school cross country teams, as area class 1A squads compete for the right to go to state.

Several area teams will make the trip to Ottumwa for a state qualifying meet and they include Columbus Community, Hillcrest Academy, Keota, Sigourney, WACO, and Winfield-Mt. Union. Highland and Lone Tree got sent north to Western Dubuque. The Columbus Community boys could compete for a team berth along with #5 ranked Pekin and #14 Valley Lutheran. The Wildcats have been led by Isaac Acosta including placing fifth at a home meet last week. Sigourney’s Mason Moore will try to punch his ticket to state for the third straight season and Winfield-Mt. Union’s Brody Barton will try to make it back-to-back. On the girls’ side Hillcrest Academy junior Leah Bontrager has qualified twice and Highland’s Madi Thomann will try to make it back as well.

With more class 1A sites this year because of COVID-19 concerns, individuals must crack the top 10 to advance to Fort Dodge next week instead of the normal 15. The top two teams advance to state instead of the normal three. The girls’ race starts at 4 p.m. with the boys’ to follow at Ottumwa’s Wildwood Park.