It has been two years since the Dutch toed the Cedar Rapids Prairie Invitation line. That meet showed that the Dutch were contenders in a year in which they won both boy’s and girls’ state championships. The Dutch are looking to make a similar statement this year as well.

Meet Information

Date: Saturday, August 31, 2024
Location: Cedar Rapids Prairie Campus

Time: (Varsity races will run at times noted, but other times are approximate.)
8:00 – 1 mile MS Girls
8:15 – 1 mile MS Boys
8:30 National Anthem
8:40 Varsity Girls 5K 10 entries
9:10 Varsity Boys 5K 10 entries
9:35 9/10 Girls 4K
10:10 – 9/10 Boys 4K
10:45 – JV Girls – 5K
11:25 – JV Boys – 5K
Noon Awards

Course Map

Parking: Spectator Parking: a parking charge of $5 per car will be collected as spectators enter the parking lot.

Course Overview:
This course is a classic campus course as it winds its way around soccer fields and class buildings. While the course is flat, it has a good amount of sharp turns, keeping the runner’s speed in check. That being said, fast times can and will be run here. It should be noted that the freshman/sophomore race is a 4k race. We will run all freshman runners in that race. All other runners will run the 5K course. This course is an excellent spectator course as you can see the runners pass in several spots without having to move a lot. The racers all finish on the track, so you can catch the speedy finishes from the stands if you choose.

Last Time At Prairie

The lady Dutch had a great season opener in 2022, with three of the girls running the three fastest times we have seen on that course. Raegan Sneider, Jacie Trine, and Autumn Blink covered the course in 20:22, 20:36, and 20:50. The course record for the girls was set by Marie Hostetler of Mid-Prairie running 18:54 in 2018. It should be noted that 2023 3A Girls state champion Marissa Ferebee ran the 4K course as a freshman that year, winning the race handily and running the 4K in 15:50. In the team race, the girl’s varsity placed second to a strong Monticello team. The JV and Freshman teams both swept their races with victories.

The boys had an equally strong 2022 race. Chase Lauman and Nathan Vander Waal ran the fastest two times ever on that course when they ran 16:06 and 16:39, respectively. The boy’s record on that course was set 11 years ago when Josh Evans of Linn-Mar ran the course in 15:51 in 2013. The boys lost a VERY close race to Marion in the team race, placing 2nd with 39 points. They swept the JV and Freshman race as well. 2023 Boys 3A Champion Canaan Dunham ran the 4K race, where he won convincingly, covering the course in a blistering 12:40.

Probable Team Lineup

Varsity Boys
Devon Browne, Kaiden Browne, Canaan Dunham, Jonah Ebersole, Mason Gaulke, Aren Helbusch, Noah Schuknecht

Varsity Girls
Elsie Brenneman, Ruth Dunham, Marissa Ferebee, Lizzie Neumann, Chloe Punt, Mara Schiebout, Raegan Snieder

Freshman/Sophomore Boys (4k)
Coben Browne, Owen Gauley, Samuel Keller, Broden O’Neill, William Schuknecht, Reid Svenby

Freshman/Sophomore Girls (4k)
Carleigh Altwine, Gracen Andersen, Sophia Blanton, Anna Dobson, Josie Hol, Dana McCulla, Kenadi Montgomery, Bryn Paulsen, Meres Schiebout, Stephanie Schrauben, Lizzy Vande Voort, Erica Vos

JV Boys
All remaining athletes in attendance

JV Girls
All remaining athletes in attendance

Competing Teams

Black Division (8 largest schools): Linn-Mar (girls only), Waterloo West (boys), Cedar Falls, CR Prairie, Davenport West, Dubuque Senior (boys), Western Dubuque, Pella
Orange Division: Clear Creek/Amana, Marion, Xavier, Ft. Madison, Williamsburg, West Liberty, Monticello, Cascade

Boys Team Race Outlook

The boys’ race features ranked teams from several classifications, including 2A—# 20 Monticello; 3A—#2 Pella, #12 Clear Creek Amana, #13 Fort Madison, #19 Williamsburg; 4A—# 2 Cedar Falls, #12 CR Prairie, #19 Dubuque Senior.

The Cedar Falls squad is likely the favorite coming into this race. The squad is returning a large number of athletes from last year’s state runner-up squad, including standout Jaden Merrick. Pella looks to challenge for the trophy as they are returning a core of juniors and sophomores from their state runner-up team last year. Junior Canaan Dunham will lead them. Clear Creek-Amana finished the 2023 campaign well and will look to improve. Similarly, Fort Madison will use this season opener to set the tone for what should be a strong 2024 campaign.

Girls Team Race Outlook

The girls’ race has a large number of ranked teams from several classifications, including 2A—# 2 Monticello; 3A—#1 Pella, #13 Clear Creek Amana, #16 Williamsburg, #19 Western Dubuque Epworth; 4A—#13 Cedar Falls, #16 Linn-Mar.

Pella is the clear favorite for the girls’ race. They return essentially the same squad that ran to a second straight state championship in 2023. They are led by 2023 State Champion Marissa Ferebee. 2A #2 Monticello beat Pella in 2022 and have a strong core of runners this season. They could contend for the championship as well. Similar to the boys team, Clear Creek Amana is trending upward and will be a team to watch.

Athlete Spotlight

Boys Individual Race

This race promises to be a swift start to the 2024 season. An early season matchup of Canaan Dunham (3A #1), Jaden Merrick (4A #2), and Quentin Nauman (3A #2) will create a buzz about this race. Dunham is last year’s defending champion in 3A, and Nauman is coming off a historical track season that saw him winning the 800, 1600, and 3200 individual titles. All three are juniors and show the strength of Iowa distance running. Other ranked runners that should be in the race include 4A—#14 Bennett Allred – Prairie, #17 Connor Martin – Cedar Falls, #20 John Ferguson – Cedar Falls; 3A—#8 Devon Browne – Pella, #13 Mason Gaulke – Pella, #16 Brock Hilsman – Clear Creek Amana, #19 Jacob Shottenkirk – Fort Madison, #29 Noah Schuknecht – Pella.

Girls Individual Race

The girl’s race will feature Pella’s Marissa Ferebee, 2023 3A girls champion, begins her title defense. She is ready to follow up her outstanding 2024 track season where she won the 1500 and 3000 individual titles as well. Other challengers outside of Marissa’s fellow Dutch runners will include Fort Madison’s Junior Avery Rump who finished 4th at the 2023 state meet and Marion junior Addison Dabroski who finished sixth. Other ranked runners include:  3A—#12 Ruth Dunham – Pella, #18 Raegan Snieder – Pella; 2A—#19 Peyton Ries – Monticello, #28 Leah Koehler – Monticello.

Notables

  • The freshman/sophmore race is a 4k. All Pella freshmen run this race. Some Sophomores will select to run the 4k as well.
  • Watch for Charlee Gall from Cedar Falls who won the Middle School state meet 1,500 in a smoking 4:44.
  • The weather is often warm here and can play a role in the later races.

Boys Top 10 Times at Prairie

Girls Top 10 Times at Prairie