Iowa Produces Historic Results at State Championships
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The Iowa State Cross Country Championships at Lakeside Golf Course in Fort Dodge were marked by record-breaking performances and outstanding individual and team accomplishments across all classes.
In 3A, Pella's Marissa Ferebee led a 1-2-3 finish for her team with a time of 16:30.9, shattering the all-time Iowa course record and securing her second consecutive title. The Pella girls dominated, winning their third straight team title with an unprecedented 23 points. In the 3A boys' race, Quentin Nauman of Western Dubuque ran 14:59.6 to become only the second Iowan to break 15 minutes, defeating last year's champion, Canaan Dunham of Pella. Gilbert won the team title with a dominant 33 points, putting all five scoring runners in the top 12 scorers.
| PLACE | VIDEO | ATHLETE | TEAM | MARK | POINTS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Marissa Ferebee | 11 | Pella High School | 16:30.90 | 1 | |
| 2 | Elsie Brenneman | 10 | Pella High School | 17:58.00 | 2 | |
| 3 | Ruth Dunham | 10 | Pella High School | 18:23.40 | 3 | |
| 4 |  Lindsey Sonderman | 12 | Harlan High School | 18:29.30 | 4 | |
| 5 |  Izzy Hardin | 11 | Maquoketa | 18:35.40 |
In 4A, Ankeny's Ethan Zuber defended his title with a time of 15:01, holding off Cedar Falls' Jaden Merrick. Cedar Falls won the boys' team title with a strong showing in the Top-20. The 4A girls' race saw Dallas Center-Grimes' Piper Messerly take her first state title in 17:58. Pleasant Valley claimed the girls' team title, showcasing depth with three in the Top-10.
The action continued on Saturday in Classes 2A and 1A. In 2A, Noelle Steines, now competing for Tipton, won her fourth state championship with an 18:12 finish, joining an elite group of Iowa runners to achieve this feat. Mid-Prairie took the girls' team title, while the Oelwein's boys claimed gold with three runners in the Top-20. Grundy Center's Emerson Vokes topped the 2A boys' race in 15:37 for his 8th straight win of the season.
In 1A, St. Albert's Lili Denton shattered the class record, clocking 17:59 to win by a wide margin, while Earlham clinched the girls' team title. In the boys' race, North Iowa's Gavin Grunhovd ran 15:57 for the win, and Lake Mills claimed the team championship with a balanced showing, putting all five scoring runners in the Top-50. The weekend was a celebration of Iowa's cross country talent, with athletes breaking records, defending titles, and securing remarkable victories across all classes.