Iowa Cross Country Athletes to Compete at State Meet

Local runners from multiple schools are set to race at Lakeside Municipal Golf Course this Friday.

Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Running

Expressive editorial sports illustration of runners mid-stride on a grassy course, capturing the motion and energy of a cross-country race. — The Class 2A state cross country meet takes place Friday at the Lakeside Municipal Golf Course in Fort Dodge, Iowa. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Notre Dame-West Burlington boys and a field of individual athletes from Iowa are preparing for the Class 2A state cross country meet on Friday. The competition will take place at Lakeside Municipal Golf Course in Fort Dodge.

Why it matters

The state meet serves as the culmination of months of preparation for these athletes, including rigorous summer training sessions conducted in extreme heat. Qualifying for the event represents the primary objective for teams and individuals throughout the season.

Josie Dykstra enters the Class 1A field ranked third among all competitors. Runners endure intense training conditions, having completed practices during summer periods with heat index values exceeding 100 degrees.

The players

Notre Dame-West Burlington

This is a high school athletic program that has successfully qualified its boys cross country team for the Class 2A state meet.

Josie Dykstra

She is a student-athlete competing in the Class 1A girls field who is currently ranked third in her division.

The details

The Notre Dame-West Burlington boys team, featuring Cavin Denney, Matthew Olson, Liam Haeger, Prior Bowen, Case Johannsen, Erik Anderson, and Keaton Petersen, leads the local presence. They are joined by individual qualifiers including Kaitlyn Kipp, Hannah Ritter, Avery Dietz, Aubree Bunnell, Fiona McGill, Will Schmidgall, Drake Newton, Macie Carter, KoraRae Stott, and Landry Loeffler.

The Class 2A girls state cross country race begins at 2:00 p.m. Friday.
The Class 2A boys state cross country race begins at 2:45 p.m. Friday.

Season Trajectory

These state meet appearances represent the final phase of the Iowa high school cross country season. Performance at the state level determines the ultimate ranking for both team programs and individual runners within their respective classifications.

Athletes must manage their pacing and hydration based on the specific terrain of the Lakeside Municipal Golf Course. Teams are competing for final placement points which solidify their standing within the state Class 2A rankings.

The takeaway

Qualifying for the state meet is the result of dedicated year-round training that often continues through difficult environmental conditions. Maintaining consistent performance through the final Friday race is essential for athletes aiming for a top finish.