It was a good day for southeast Iowa Thursday at the Class 1A State Qualifier cross country meet in Pleasantville as four individual runners from the KCII listening area qualified for next week’s State Championship meet in Fort Dodge. In boys competition, WACO’s Jude Dykstra secured his spot with an individual title, beating the field in 16:40. The Warriors finished fourth of 10 teams with 127 points. Earlham won the meet with 41 points. Other WACO runners included Gavin Slagel 14th, Keiran Luitjens 22nd, Tristan Luitjens 34th, and Kaden Donaldson 84th.

Also on his way to State is Winfield-Mt. Union’s Kohlby Newsom, the senior finished as overall runner-up in 16:49 as the Wolves were sixth in the team standings with 158 points. Other WMU performers included Brayden Cline 39th, Jacob Nelson 44th, Bowen Thomson 49th, Carter Finnell 53rd, Konner Kinneberg 60th, and William Cupps 78th.

Sigourney’s Troy Klett made it into the State field in 11th at 17:37. Other runners for the Savages included Levi Myers 41st, Jordan Anderson 45th and Isaac Jones 61st.

Hillcrest Academy was fifth as a team with 147 points. Leading Raven runner was Jesse Blossom 20th in 18:35. Other Hillcrest athletes were Micah Gerber 23rd, Braden Hartsock 32nd, Isaac Beachy 36th, Jeremiah Danker 58th, Mateo Rodriguez-Yoder 59th, and Kyle Neuschwander 64th.

The Highland Huskies were led by Jack Krotz 51st in 21:07, followed by Chase Hickenbottom 62nd and Brayden Zywiec 63rd. Keota’s Hunter Granstaff was 66th.

In the girls race, the Hillcrest Ravens stole the show, sending two individuals to State. The Raven’s Marie Yoder led all local girls competitors, finishing as individual runner-up in 19:15. Pekin’s Chloe Glosser won the meet in 18:43. Hillcrest’s Siena Stanerson is also on her way to Fort Dodge after finishing fifth in 19:32. Other Raven runners included Delaney Shaw 45th and Brynna O’Rourke 50th. Earlham won the team title with 28 points.

WACO had the top area girls team finish in fifth with 115 points. The Warrior’s Josie Dykstra was 11th, one step away from State in 20:08. Other Warriors included Elyssa Graber 24th, Sarah Craun 55th, Justine Lynn 58th and Deedra Graber 59th.

Sigourney’s top runner was Ellie Yates 16th in 21:13. She was followed by Addison Yates 19th, Brynn Clarahan 23rd and Cloee Wilson 48th.

Dykstra, Yoder, Newsom and Stanerson will all be on the course Saturday, November 2nd at Kennedy Park in Fort Dodge for the Class 1A State Meet.