The wait is over—cross country season has arrived. On Saturday, August 30, the Pella Dutch boys’ and girls’ teams will line up for their first race of the 2025 campaign at the Cedar Rapids Prairie Invitational, one of the largest and most competitive early-season meets in Iowa.

For Pella, this meet provides the first real test after a summer filled with miles, sweat, and team bonding. The Prairie Invite is known for its deep fields and fast competition, drawing powerhouse programs from across eastern Iowa, including several 4A schools such as Prairie, Linn-Mar, and Cedar Falls. It’s the perfect opportunity for the Dutch to measure themselves against some of the state’s best.

Boys’ Team Outlook

The Dutch boys return a strong core of varsity experience, led by a seasoned senior group of Canaan Dunham, Mason Gaulke, and Noah Schuknecht, who will look to set the pace up front. Joining them are Jonah Ebersole (11), Asher Schiebout (12), Dane Paulsen (12), and Caleb Punt (11), each bringing steady experience and consistency to the lineup.

The varsity boys will be facing excellent competition as they run against nine pre-season ranked teams from across three classes, including three of the top five 4A teams in Cedar Falls (1), Iowa City High (2), and host Cedar Rapids Prairie (5). A host of ranked 3A teams will also toe the line as the Pella Dutch (2) square off with Clear Creek Amana (12), Western Dubuque (18), Williamsburg (19), and Xavier (20). This early season race will help begin to draw a picture of what the rest of the season may hold.

The JV squad and freshman squad will also be competitive in their respective races. Last fall, the Dutch JV team placed 3rd overall at Prairie—just five points shy of first place. They’ll aim to improve on that finish this year behind the efforts of Even Johnston (12), Zane Redman (11), and Sam Keller (10).

All freshmen will open their seasons in the 9–10 grade 4K race, giving newcomers a chance to ease into the longer race schedule that awaits them later in the season. Several sophomores who are new to the sport will also take advantage of this race, using it as a stepping stone for the fall ahead.

Girls’ Team Outlook

The Dutch girls enter the 2025 season as three-time defending state champions, and they have their eyes set on a historic fourth straight title. Leadership and experience will once again be a strength, as Marissa Ferebee (12), Elsie Brenneman (11), Ruth Dunham (11), Lizzy Vande Voort (10), Carleigh Altwine (10), and Lizzie Neumann (12) return to anchor the varsity squad. While the seventh spot could be filled by any number of strong Dutch runners, Bryn Paulsen (10) will be a welcome addition at Prairie.

The team’s dominance has been built not just on front-runners but on a tightly packed scoring group. This year’s varsity lineup will look to continue that tradition while also bringing along new contributors who will gain valuable experience as the season unfolds.

The girls’ varsity race features seven ranked teams, including the 3A #1 Dutch. 4A powerhouse Cedar Falls (6) and host Cedar Rapids Prairie (19) will give chase, while other ranked 3A challengers include Fort Madison (8), Williamsburg (14), and Marion (18). The Pella girls set the tone for their season in 2024 by winning Prairie with just 21 points. They’ll look to set a similar tone this year.

Behind the varsity seven, the JV squad continues to showcase the program’s depth. Several returners and first-time competitors will be eager to test themselves in the opening race, pushing one another and strengthening the team overall.

The 9–10 grade 4K race will give underclass runners a chance to settle into high school competition. While they won’t be individually highlighted this early in the season, their development will be an important piece of sustaining Pella’s championship tradition for years to come.

Individual Race Outlook

The boys’ varsity race will showcase some of the state’s top individual talent — and even a few of the best in the nation. Three standout runners will headline the field:

  • Quentin Nauman – Western Dubuque/Epworth (3A #1): the 2025 track and field breakout star, defending 3A State champion, looking to repeat.

  • Canaan Dunham – Pella (3A #2): last year’s 3A State runner-up, aiming to close the gap on Nauman.

  • Jaden Merrick – Cedar Falls (4A #1): a 4A standout who was sidelined by injury in 2024 but placed 3rd at Prairie last year. Expect him to challenge for the win.

Beyond the front pack, the field is loaded with ranked runners:

  • Dominic Williams – Cedar Falls (4A #6)

  • Kyle Johnson – Cedar Rapids Prairie (4A #13)

  • Maxwell McDowell – Iowa City High (4A #15)

  • Linus McRoberts – Iowa City High (4A #18)

  • Owen Miller – Cedar Rapids Prairie (4A #26)

  • Cole Carrizales – Cedar Rapids Prairie (4A #27)

  • Emmett Palmberg – Iowa City High (4A #28)

  • Andrew Allen – Xavier (3A #12)

  • Mason Gaulke – Pella (3A #15)

  • Carson Meskimen – Clear Creek Amana (3A #24)

  • Noah Schuknecht – Pella (3A #30)

  • Aedan Althoff – Monticello (2A #30)

With such a deep field, the boys’ race will carry a “state-meet feel” right from the season’s opening gun.

Girls’ Race

The Pella girls bring not only team dominance but also some of the state’s top-ranked individuals. The Dutch pack is led by:

  • Marissa Ferebee – Pella (3A #1)

  • Elsie Brenneman – Pella (3A #2)

  • Ruth Dunham – Pella (3A #3)

Together, they form a front-running trio that will look to control the race. Their top challenger will be Charlee Gall – Cedar Falls (4A #2), last year’s Prairie Invite runner-up.

Other ranked athletes expected to contend include:

  • Katherine Tomlyanovich – Cedar Falls (4A #22)

  • Hailey Kozloski – Linn-Mar (4A #28)

  • Evelyn Moeller – Mount Vernon-Lisbon (3A #11)

  • Carleigh Altwine – Pella (3A #11)

  • Elizabeth VandeVoort – Pella (3A #13)

  • Mia Deegan – Xavier (3A #17)

  • Addison Dabroski – Marion (3A #23)

  • Kiersten Swart – Mount Vernon-Lisbon (3A #30)

  • Peyton Ries – Monticello (2A #18)

With so many ranked runners across multiple classes, the girls’ race promises to be both fast and tightly contested — a true early-season test for individuals and teams alike.

Expected Lineup

Varsity Boys:

  • Dunham, Ebersole, Gaulke, Paulsen, Punt, Schiebout, Schuknecht,

Varsity Girls:

  • Alwine, Brenneman, Dunham, Ferebee, Neumann, Paulsen, VandeVoort

Junior Varsity Boys:

  • Coben Browne, Owen Gauley, Samuel Keller, Broden O’Neill, Jackson Renaud, Reid Svenby, Trent Hopkins, Zane Redman, Xavier Tobin, Aaron Thatcher, Malachi Van Haaften, William Conrad, Henry Gauley, Aiden Huston, Evan Johnston, Daniel Rozenboom, Isaac Vandenberg

Junior Varsity Girls:

  • Gracen Andersen, Haylie DeVries, Anna Dobson, Josie Hol, Dana McCulla, Kenadi Montgomery, Erica Vos, Taylor Glennon, Greta Miller, Jaeda Van Zante, Reanna DeVries, Rose DeVries, Isabella Smith, Rebekah Wittenberg, Emerson Wogen

Freshman/Sophomore Boys:

  • Easton Hannon, Michael Helm, Zander Kanis, Xavier Keasling, Emmerich Olin, Elim Redman, Brant Vande Voort

Freshman/Sophomore Girls:

  • Hayden Bohn, Aubrey Finn, Hannah Nunnikhoven, Adelyn Smith, Analiese Snieder, McKyndree Treft, Eden Trine, Lauren Van Kley, Kaitlyn Weaver, Ketziah Wittenberg, Danica Van Baale, Brynley Schulte

What to Watch

  • Early Season Benchmark: First races are often about finding rhythm and testing fitness. Expect the Dutch to focus less on times and more on execution.

  • Pack Running: Can the boys and girls hold their groups together through the middle miles? That will be a key factor in both team finishes.

Looking Ahead

After the Cedar Rapids Prairie Invitational, the Dutch return home to host their annual meet the Pella Dutch Invitational on Saturday, September 6, at the Central College Cross Country Course. Unlike most meets, this event will feature just two races — one for girls and one for boys — with all athletes running together instead of being divided into varsity and junior varsity.

That unique format makes it one of the rare times the entire program competes side by side, creating an energetic and unified team atmosphere. It’s always a special day for the athletes, families, and fans.

We invite the community to come out and cheer on the Dutch at home:

  • Girls’ race: 9:00 AM

  • Boys’ race: 9:40 AM

MEET SCHEDULE

8:40 AM Varsity Girls
9:10 AM Varsity Boys
9:35 AM 9/10 Girls
10:10 AM 9/10 Boys
10:45 AM JV Girls
11:25 AM JV Boys

TOP 10 PRAIRIE 5K TIMES

Girls

2024MarissaFerebee17:23Prairie Invite
2024ElsieBrenneman18:14Prairie Invite
2024RuthDunham19:46Prairie Invite
2024MaraSchiebout19:54Prairie Invite
2024RaeganSnieder20:02Prairie Invite
2022RaeganSnieder20:22Prairie Invite
2022JacieTrine20:36Prairie Invite
2022AutumnBlink20:50Prairie Invite
2015CiaraBuchheit20:50Prairie Invite
2015TessRoorda20:55Prairie Invite

Boys

2024CanaanDunham15:25Prairie Invite
2022ChaseLauman16:06Prairie Invite
2022NathanVander Waal16:39Prairie Invite
2015AdamSievers16:59Prairie Invite
2024MasonGaulke17:09Prairie Invite
2014AdamSievers17:11Prairie Invite
2015BlaiseWinegardner17:16Prairie Invite
2025NoahSchuknecht17:25Prairie Invite
2016BlaiseWinegardner17:26Prairie Invite
2014BenWarner17:27Prairie Invite

2024 VARSITY TEAM RESULTS

Girls

1 Pella 21
2 Cedar Falls 46
3 Prairie, Cedar Rapids 126
4 Linn-Mar, Marion 150
5 Clear Creek Amana 154
6 Marion 173
7 Monticello 189
8 Williamsburg 197
9 Fort Madison 208
10 Xavier, Cedar Rapids 224
11 Cascade, Western Dubuque 278
12 Epworth, Western Dubuque 280
13 Central Lee, Donnellson 377

Boys
1 Cedar Falls 44
2 Prairie, Cedar Rapids 60
3 Iowa City, City High 80
4 Pella 123
5 Dubuque, Senior 126
6 Clear Creek Amana 204
7 Epworth, Western Dubuque 233
8 Fort Madison 236
9 Waterloo, West 250
10 Monticello 312
11 Xavier, Cedar Rapids 318
12 Marion 330
13 Williamsburg 339
14 Davenport, West
15 Cascade, Western Dubuque 422

2024 JV TEAM RESULTS

Girls
1 Cedar Falls 20
2 Pella 64
3 Epworth, Western Dubuque 76
4 Xavier, Cedar Rapids 81
5 Marion 137

Boys
1 Iowa City, City High 44
2 Cedar Falls 49
3 Pella 49
4 Dubuque, Senior 107
5 Clear Creek Amana 150
6 Epworth, Western Dubuque 199
7 Williamsburg 207
8 Prairie, Cedar Rapids 209
9 Monticello 211
10 Marion 271

2024 9/10 4K TEAM RESULTS

Girls
1 Pella 15
2 Cedar Falls 40
3 Prairie, Cedar Rapids 90
4 Linn-Mar, Marion 99
5 Xavier, Cedar Rapids 133