The Columbus Wildcats and Lone Tree Lions will be looking to earn a place at this year’s Class 1A state cross country championships when they compete at state qualifying meets later today.

The Columbus boys have high hopes as they prepare to compete at North Linn. The Wildcats are ranked 13th in the state in Class 1A and have finished top five in team scoring at almost every meet this season.

A big reason for that success is senior Ty Muniz, who is ranked top-30 individually in 1A and has a top-10 finish in all but one race this fall. Meanwhile, for the Wildcat girls, sophomore Iris Garza will be looking to qualify for state for a second straight season.

Lone Tree will also have a runner looking to be a two-time state qualifier when they race at Iowa City, as senior Vivian Zaruba seeks a trip to Fort Dodge for the second time in three years.

Freshman Addyson Eiben has also been one of the Lions’ top runners on the girls’ side, finishing top 10 in nearly every meet this season, while sophomore Brock Nebergall has put up the best times for the boys’ team. Both state qualifying meets begin this afternoon at 4.