WINTERSET, Iowa — October 21, 2026 — The Pella Dutch cross country teams punched their tickets to the Class 3A State Championships Wednesday afternoon, delivering a pair of qualifying performances on a demanding Lakeview Country Club course.
The Dutch girls left little doubt about their championship intentions, sweeping the top three individual positions and claiming the team championship with a remarkable 19 points. The Pella boys followed with a runner-up finish, scoring 80 points to secure their place at the state meet.
With steep hills and numerous tight turns challenging runners throughout the afternoon, Lakeview offered a difficult final test before the season’s biggest stage.
Girls Sweep Podium in Dominant Qualifying Performance
For a Pella girls program pursuing its fifth consecutive Class 3A state championship, Wednesday’s performance was another powerful statement.
Senior Elsie Brenneman led the way, winning the individual championship in 18:24.2. Freshman Maechen Cowman followed in second place with an 18:43.3, while senior Ruth Dunham completed the Dutch sweep with a third-place finish in 19:18.5.
Pella’s dominance extended well beyond the front of the race.
Freshman Ellie Hardman finished sixth in 19:58.1, and junior Lizzy Vande Voort secured seventh in 20:03.2, completing a remarkable scoring five that placed every runner among the top seven finishers.
The result: just 19 points, a team average of 19:17.5, and a commanding victory.
Junior Erica Vos continued her strong season with a 10th-place finish in 20:12.6, while junior Dana McCulla rounded out Pella’s seven-runner lineup in 19th at 20:56.8.
All seven Dutch runners finished among the top 19 competitors, demonstrating the depth that has defined the program’s sustained championship success.
Pella Girls Individual Results
| Place | Athlete | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elsie Brenneman (Sr.) | 18:24.2 |
| 2 | Maechen Cowman (Fr.) | 18:43.3 |
| 3 | Ruth Dunham (Sr.) | 19:18.5 |
| 6 | Ellie Hardman (Fr.) | 19:58.1 |
| 7 | Lizzy Vande Voort (Jr.) | 20:03.2 |
| 10 | Erica Vos (Jr.) | 20:12.6 |
| 19 | Dana McCulla (Jr.) | 20:56.8 |
The Dutch now turn their attention toward Fort Dodge, where they will attempt to accomplish something extraordinary: five consecutive state championships.
Boys Secure Runner-Up Finish, Continue State Trophy Pursuit
Pella’s boys faced a demanding challenge on the same Lakeview course but responded with a balanced team effort to finish second behind a powerful Gilbert squad.
Senior Porter Carlton led the Dutch with a fifth-place finish in 17:04.0, securing a top-five individual performance against a field featuring some of Class 3A’s strongest runners.
Gilbert senior Logan Bleich claimed the individual championship in 15:44.7, followed by teammate Jacob Tallman in 15:52.6.
Behind Carlton, senior Jonah Ebersole finished 15th in 17:33.9, and sophomore Zander Kanis followed closely in 17th with a time of 17:41.0.
Sophomore Brant Vande Voort continued his late-season emergence, placing 20th in 17:47.0. Freshman Jonah Dunham completed Pella’s scoring five with a personal-best 17:55.5, finishing 23rd.
Just 51.5 seconds separated Pella’s first and fifth runners, highlighting the balance of the Dutch lineup.
Sophomore Silas Gaulke also delivered a personal-best performance, finishing 36th in 18:30.4.
Junior Sam Keller battled the difficult course conditions but persevered to finish, completing Pella’s seven-man lineup.
The Dutch totaled 80 points, good for second place behind Gilbert’s 36.
Pella Boys Individual Results
| Place | Athlete | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Porter Carlton (Sr.) | 17:04.0 |
| 15 | Jonah Ebersole (Sr.) | 17:33.9 |
| 17 | Zander Kanis (So.) | 17:41.0 |
| 20 | Brant Vande Voort (So.) | 17:47.0 |
| 23 | Jonah Dunham (Fr.) | 17:55.5 (PB) |
| 36 | Silas Gaulke (So.) | 18:30.4 (PB) |
| 65 | Sam Keller (Jr.) | 20:12.1 |
For a boys program that graduated five seniors following the 2025 season, qualifying for state represents another significant achievement.
Three of Pella’s five scoring runners are underclassmen, a promising indication of the program’s future even as the Dutch remain focused on their immediate goal of a fifth consecutive state trophy.
One More Race in Fort Dodge
With both squads advancing, Pella will once again be represented in both Class 3A championship races at Kennedy Park in Fort Dodge on Saturday, October 31.
For the girls, the stakes extend beyond another appearance at state. Four consecutive championships have established one of Iowa’s premier cross country dynasties, and the opportunity to make it five now awaits.
For the boys, the journey has required developing new contributors, overcoming the challenges of a changing lineup, and maintaining the competitive standards established by the teams that came before them.
Wednesday’s qualifying performances ensured both teams will have an opportunity to write the next chapter.
The road to five now leads to Fort Dodge.