Meet Preview: 2024 Little Hawkeye Conference Championships

Every conference believes its conference is the best. It’s great to have conference pride. When you reflect on the current teams in the Little Hawkeye conference, there are some numbers to back that up. Since cross country has been sanctioned as a sport by the state associations, the current teams have won 15 team and 15 individual titles, both boys and girls teams.

That bodes well for the argument that this conference is, indeed, one of the best in the state. This years championship race will uphold the tradition of strong teams running for the conference trophy.

Date: October 14, 2024

Location: Maytag Park Newton | 301 South 11th Ave W, Newton, IA 50208 [Google Map]

Race Start Time:

• 4:00 – MS Girls
• 4:25 – MS Boys
• 4:50 – Varsity Girls
• 5:15 – Varsity Boys
• 5:40 – JV Girls
• 6:05 – JV Boys

Online Race Results

Maytag Park Course Map

Starting box assignments: 1) Dallas Center-Grimes 2) Indianola 3) Newton
4) Norwalk 5) Oskaloosa 6) Pella 7) Pella Christian

Boys Results 2023

Boys 5K
Pella 1st out of 7 – 34 points

Top 3 Dutch Individuals
1 Canaan Dunham 10, 15:47.4
3 Nathan Vander Waal 12, 15:53.3
8 Devon Browne 11, 15:20.5

Girls Team Results 2023

Girls 5K
Pella 2nd out of 7 – 37 Points

Top 3 Dutch Individuals
3 Marissa Ferebee 10, 19:05.7
4 Ruth Dunham, 19:13.3
7 Raegan Snieder 11, 19:22.8

Newton Maytag Park Cross Country Course

Challenging is the perfect word to describe the Newton course. With plenty of hills, stretches of pasture, sharp turns, and a few flat areas to pick up speed, this course tests both physical and mental toughness. For the fans: get your running shoes on and warm up, because you’ll cover some ground cheering on the Dutch. It’ll be worth it!

Varsity Boys
Devon Brown (12), Porter Carlton (10), Canaan Dunham (11), Jonah Ebersole (10), Mason Gaulke (11), Noah Asher Schiebout (11), Schuknecht (11)

JV Boys
Coben Browne (9), Mars Chapel (12), MacK Copeland (12), Zach Dobson (11), Shane Earles (10), Abner Erickson (11), Owen Gauley (9), Henry Gauley (11), Trent Hopkins (10), Noah Huffaker (12), Aiden Huston (11), Evan Johnston (11), Samuel Keller (9), Joseph Kirkwold (11), Xabier Lozano-Isusi (12), Broden O’Neill (9), Dane Paulsen (11), Caleb Punt (10), Zane Redman (10), Christian Rempe (12), Daniel Rozenboom (11),  William Schuknecht (9), Jordan Shaffer (12), Trevin Sutton (11), Reid Svenby (9), Aaron Thatcher (10), Ben Thompson (12), Malachi Van Haaften (10), Zack Van Wyk-Jutting (10), Isaac Vandenberg (11)

Varsity Girls
Carleigh Altwine (9), Elsie Brenneman (10), Ruth Dunham (10), Marissa Ferebee (11), Lizzie Neumann (11), Mara Schiebout (12), Raegan Snieder (12)

JV Girls
Gracen Andersen (9), Nora Ausman (12), Sophia Blanton (9), Rose DeVries (11), Reanna DeVries (11), Anna Dobson (9), Taylor Glennon (10), Josie Hol (9), Cameron Knouse (11), Dana McCulla (9), Greta Miller (10), Kenadi Montgomery (9), Lyndon Norton (11), Bryn Paulsen (9), Aurora Petrone (11), Chloe Punt (12), Meres Schiebout (9), Stephanie Schrauben (9), Josie Settles (11), Isabella Smith (11), Jaeda Van Zante (10), Lizzy Vande Voort (9), Rebekah Wittenberg (11), Emerson Wogen (12)

Boys Team Race Preview

The Little Hawkeye Conference boys race is arguably the toughest conference meet in Iowa. It features highly ranked teams from three Iowa high school classifications (4A-2A) as of October 8, 2024. In Class 4A, Norwalk is ranked #9, though that may change after their strong second-place finish at Fort Dodge last week, just behind 4A #1 Dowling Catholic and ahead of #5 Ankeny, #6 Waukee, and #8 Waukee Northwest. Dallas Center-Grimes is ranked #11 in 4A, though they have yet to field their full lineup this season. Indianola has had an impressive 2024 season and currently holds the #12 spot in 4A. All three teams will challenge 3A #2 Pella. In Class 2A, #14 Pella Christian is coming off their best race of the season, finishing second at Centerville behind 2A #5 Chariton. They’ll use this competition to build momentum as they prepare for the state qualifying meet next week.

Other teams competing:
Newton, Oskaloosa (3A #20)

Interesting tidbits:
Last year marked the Dutch boys’ first conference championship since 2009.
Dallas Center-Grimes finished 7th at the 4A state championships, while Norwalk placed 13th. Pella was the 3A runner-up, and Pella Christian finished 14th in the 2A race.

Girls Team Race Preview

The Pella Dutch girls are the clear favorites in this race, and for good reason. They haven’t lost a race all season, with no team finishing within 20 points of them. They’ll be looking to avenge their narrow 2-point loss to Dallas Center-Grimes (DCG) in last year’s Little Hawkeye Championships. DCG, however, won’t go down without a fight. The Mustangs are coming off a strong 6th-place finish at Fort Dodge and are currently ranked #8 in 4A. 4A #14 Indianola has also had a solid season, and if they put together one of their best performances, they could be in the mix as well.

Other teams competing:
Newton, Norwalk, Oskaloosa, Pella Christian (2A #14)

Boys Individual Race

The boys race promises to be thrilling, featuring some of the top athletes in the state on the challenging Maytag course. The favorite is 3A #2 Canaan Dunham, who has had an outstanding season, winning all but two of his races. 4A #10 Reed Robbins of Indianola will also be in the hunt for a podium spot.

Other ranked boys:
4A – #20 Teegan Kralik (11, Norwalk), #22 Sam Mora (12, Dallas Center-Grimes)
3A – #18 Mason Gaulke (11, Pella), #30 Devon Browne (12, Pella)

Historical context: Canaan Dunham is the defending conference champion and will aim to retain his title. The last individual to win back-to-back conference championships was Ryan Turlouw, who won in 2000, 2001, and 2002.

Girls Individual Race

The girls race is set to be highly competitive, with several of the region’s top runners vying for the conference title. All eyes will be on 3A #1 and undefeated Marissa Ferebee, who is having one of the most remarkable cross country seasons Iowa has seen. She is currently ranked #28 nationally by Dyestat NXN. Hot on her heels is 3A #2 Elsie Brenneman, making them one of the strongest duos in the state. 4A #3 Piper Messerly, a sophomore from Dallas Center-Grimes, is coming off an incredible win at Fort Dodge, where she clocked 18:11.5. She will push the Dutch duo for the conference title. 4A #8 Jordyn Brown of Indianola, who finished 13th in that same race, will also be a contender. It will be an impressive field at Maytag Park.

Other ranked girls:
4A – #6 Maddy Stevens (12, Dallas Center-Grimes)
3A – #11 Ruth Dunham (10, Pella), #15 Mara Schiebout (12, Pella), #27 Raegan Snieder (12, Pella)
2A – #16 Bailey Vos (11, Pella Christian)

Historical context: If Marissa Ferebee wins the conference championship, she would be the first two-time Dutch champion since Gabi Meirick, who won in 2011 and 2012.

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 21 – JV Last Chance – Pella Sports Park
• October 23 – State Qualifying Meet – Pella Sports Park