Meet Preview: 19th Heartland Classic

Date: September 21, 2024

Location: Central College Cross Country Course – 1200 Independence St, Pella, IA 50219 –  [Google Maps Link]

Race Start Time:

• 10:10am: JV Girls (All Grades)
• 10:45am: JV Boys (All Grades)
• 11:20pm: Varsity Girls (10 Entrants per team)
• 11:50pm: Varsity Boys (10 Entrants per team)
• 12:15 pm: Awards Ceremony

Results here

Central College 5K Course Map

Parking: Please read these detailed & important parking instructions

Official Meet Website

Boys Results 2023

Varsity Boys 5K
Pella 11th out of 28 – 263

Top 3 Dutch Individuals
5 Canaan Dunham, 10 15:37.1
10 Noah Schuknecht, 10 16:59.8

JV Boys
Pella 4th out of 17 – 103

Top 3 Dutch Individuals
3 Mason Gaulke, 10 17:21.9
9 Jonah Ebersole, 9 17:45.6
14 Kaiden Browne, 11 17:54.0

Girls Team Results 2023

Girls 5K
Pella 3rd out of 21 – 97

Top 3 Dutch Individuals
13 Ruth Dunham, 9 19:40.8
14 Marissa Ferebee, 10 19:42.0
15 Autumn Blink, 12 19:49.0

JV Girls
Pella 4th out of 15 – 109

Top 3 Dutch Individuals
2 Elsie Brenneman, 9 20:57.7
11 Kamry Trine, 9 21:54.5
26 Tess Paulsen, 12 22:28.2

Central College Course

Planning to cheer at the Central College Cross Country course? This place is like a well-maintained park trail made especially for runners. It’s got its quirks with a few challenging turns and rises, but there’s plenty of smooth paths where runners pick up the pace. And for those of us on the sidelines? There are a couple of spots perfect for watching the race unfold multiple times. Just a friendly heads-up: bring your comfy shoes. With all the buzz, you might feel the itch to hop around for the best views – maybe even jog a bit!

Varsity Boys
Devon Browne, Kaide Browne, Canaan Dunham, Jonah Ebersole, Mason Gaulke, Aren Hellbusch, Noah Schuknecht

JV Boys
All remaining healthy runners

Varsity Girls
Carleigh Altwine, Elsie Brenneman, Ruth Dunham, Marissa Ferebee, Mara Schiebout, Raegan Snieder, Lizzy Vande Voort

JV Girls
All remaining healthy runners

The 19th Heartland Classic may be smaller in numbers than usual, but it will still bring strong competition from all over the midwest. The calendar shifted this year and as a result the Heartland Classic clashes with the Roy Griak meet. This will keep some of the South Dakota and Kansas schools from coming to the Heartland. The meet will still include schools from Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, and Kansas.

This year’s event boasting 20 girls’ teams and 23 boys’ teams. This Saturday’s race isn’t just another meet; it’s a gathering of the Midwest’s finest, a display of skill and determination. The course is ready for some strong racing.

Let’s highlight some of the teams to watch.

Nebraska: Our neighbors to the west are undeniably loaded with talent. The focus is on three schools within the top 5 of Class ‘A’:

• #1 Fremont: Fremont is led by one of the strongest runners in the nation. At their season opener at the Augustana Twilight meet the tigers place fourth finishing behind three strong South Dakota teams. Fremont finished 13th in the 2023 Heartland Classic. Just two places behind Pella. They are looking to improve on that pace
• #4 Papillion-La Vista South: Papillion’s latest race saw them place 3rd at The Platte River Rumble. Papillion finished a strong 7th at the 2023 edition of the Heartland Classic. They look to remain in the top 10 this year.
• #5 Lincoln Southwest:  Lincoln Southwest finished one place behind Papillion-La Vista South at the Platte River Rumble last week. They would like nothing better than to reverse the outcome at the Heartland Classic Saturday. Southwest finished 16th at last years Heartland Classic

Kansas: Once again Gardner-Edgerton, will be the lone representative from Kansas. They are presently ranked #6 in 6A MileSplit Poll. The Trailblazers placed 14th at one the Olathe Twilight meet most recently. They were 3rd at the Heartland Classic in 2023 and could make a strong bid for the top trophy. Coach Cochran will have his Trailblazers ready to compete.

Missouri: The Liberty Blue Jays are the only Missouri team at the Heartland Classic this year. However, this is a quality representative from the Show Me state. They are coming off a fourth place finish at the Olathe Twilight and could be a threat for the championship.

Iowa: Iowa will have the largest contingent of teams at the Heartland Classic. Many ranked teams from several divisions will be at the Central course. Ten ranked teams from 4A and two ranked teams from 3A are schedule to run:

• 4A: #1 Dowling Catholic*, #3 Indianola, #4 Norwalk, #5 Dallas Center-Grimes, #7 Iowa City, City High, #8 Waukee Northwest, #9 Cedar Rapids Prairie#16 Ankeny Centennial,,  #18 Marshalltown
• 3A: #2 Pella, #3 Des Moines Christian

*Running JV Squad

Watch for Indianola, Norwalk, and Dallas Center-Grimes compete for the top trophy here. Pella would love to take advantage of the home course and make a challenge for a trophy as well. This will be the first match up this year between the Dutch and Des Moines Christian who has stepped up to 3A this year after winning the 2A title at the State Championships last year. Both teams are looking to have a good showing against each other as we march towards post-season racing.

Girls Race Features Strong Teams

The girls race will also bring strong competition from the Kansas, Nebraska, and the home state Iowa.

Kansas: Representing the Sunflower State is the up-and-coming Gardner-Edgerton team. They will be looking to improve on their 10th place finish from 2023. The Blazers most recent race took place at the competitive Olathe Twilight meet where they placed 21st.

Missouri: The Liberty Blue Jays girl’s team is coming off a solid 11th place finish at the Olathe Twilight. Liberty has a trio of front runners that will make the a threat.

Iowa: The host state boasts depth in talent across the classes. All eyes will be on the 3A #1 Pella girls team who entered the NXN national polls this week for the first time ever at #38. They are coming off one of the best performances put together by an Iowa girls team. They won the Gilbert invitational with a team average of 18:12. Expect a strong push from Waukee Northwest for a trophy finish as well. Ranked teams in this race include:

• 4A: #5 Waukee Northwest, #9 Iowa City, City High, #11 Indianola, #13 Waukee, #15 Prairie, Cedar Rapids, #16 Dowling
• 3A: #1 Pella, #15 Des Moines Christian
• 1A: #20 Pleasantville

With such an ensemble, fans and participants are in for a memorable race!

Boys Individual Race: Get Ready for Lightning Speed!

There are two names that quickly rise to the top when you look at the individuals in this race. Both of these seasoned runners are considered some of the top talent in the nation. There is a third that could be in that mix as the Sophomore from Marshalltown has burst onto the scene this year.

• Juan Gonzales (Fremont): Gonzales won last years Heartland by setting the course record at 15:04.5. He has already broken the 15 minute mark when he won the Augustana Twilight in his season opener. He clocked a smoking 14:34.48
• Canaan Dunham (Pella): Canaan has had a great start to his Junior season. Last week Dunham won the Gilbert invitational running an all-time best of 14:43.0.
• Preston Johnson (Marshalltown): Johnson ran a 15:03.5 and finishing a close second to Ethan Zuber who is as good of racer as you can find in the nation.

Kansas makes its presence felt:

• Cade Halton (Gardner-Edgerton): Halton recently ran 15:58.4 and is a Junior that could be in that front pack as well.

Missouri triple threat:

• Todd Yeates (Liberty MO): 15:24.7 Olathe Twilight
• Patrick Cleary (Liberty MO): 15:35.0 Olathe Twilight
• Connor Nicholson (Liberty MO): 15:37.30 Olathe Twilight

Other Iowans under the 16 minute mark include:

• Graham Ibeling (Dallas Center-Grimes): 15:21.5 Marshalltown Invite
• Reed Robbins (Indianola): 15:23.39 Marshalltown Invite
• Zack Janulewicz (Waukee Northwest): 15:35.2 Marshalltown Invite
• Teegan Kralik (Norwalk): 15:35.75 Marshalltown Invite
• John Moellers (Marshalltown): 15:36.7 Kirk Schmaltz Invite
• Kellen Tuyls (Waukee Northwest): 15:37.79 Marshalltown Invite
• Tony Anania (Norwalk): 15:38.29 Marshalltown Invite
• Jake Robidoux (Indianola): 15:43.6 Marshalltown Invite
• Sam Mora (Dallas Center-Grimes): 15:46.39 Marshalltown Invite
• Kiefer Barnes (Indianola): 15:46.7 Marshalltown Invite
• Cohen Moll (Ankney Centennial): 15:50.6 Cedar Rapids Invite
• Carter Nunn (Marshalltown): 15:51.79 Marshalltown Invite
• Jack Meggison (Dallas Center-Grimes): 15:53.5 Marshalltown Invite

Historical Context: The course record for the High School 5K stands from last year when the Gonzales blistered a 15:04.5. Dunham has already clocked a 15:16 on this same course earlier this season. If the weather cooperates one of these two could take the course record under the 15 minute mark.

Girls Race: Showcasing the Midwest’s Elite

The headliner of the race will be 3A #1 Marissa Ferebee, who ran the fastest 5K ever recorded on Iowa soil when she won the Gilbert Invitational in 16:38.10. Two weeks ago she ran the Central Course in 17:34. If the conditions are right she certainly could go under 17 again. What isn’t getting much attention and really should is Pella’s #2 runner is one of the fastest in the nation as well. 3A #2 Elsie Brenneman ran 17:24.09 at the Gilbert Invitational. These two girls make a strong one-two punch for the Dutch.

Other Standout Iowa Girls include:

• 4A: #9 Jordyn Brown, 12 Indianola; #17 Abigail Burns, 11 City High; #24 Ella Jones, 9 Waukee Northwest;
• 3A: #6 Elyse Erzen, 9 Des Moines Christian; #9 Ruth Dunham, 10 Pella; #16 Raegan Snieder, 12 Pella; #18 Lizzy VandeVoort, 9 Pella; #22 Carleigh Altwine, 9 Pella; #25 Mara Schiebout, 12 Pella;

Nebraska Girls to watch:

• Meredith Marsh (Lincoln Southwest): Marsh finished 5th at the Platte River Rumber running 19:31.48
• Silvy Munn (Lincoln Southwest): Munn won the Titan Classic running 19:46.68
• Hannah Soucie (Lincoln Southwest): Soucie was 10th at the Platte River Rumble clocking 19:40.28

With this talent, the race is undoubtedly set to be exciting.

Course Record in Sight?

Ballard High’s remarkable Paityn Noe set the course on fire last year with a record-setting 17:28.7. The record is certainly in jeopardy if the weather holds out. It is possible more than one girl could go under that record.

Encourage family, friends, and fans to come out and support:

• Wear your Dutch Green!
• Bring your best positive cheer voice and cheer on the Dutch….by name if you know it!

• October 1 – Williamsburg Invitational – Williamsburg Sports Complex
• October 3 – Bud and Bonnie Williams Invitational – Iowa City – Kickers Soccer Complex