Top-ranked girls begin their postseason pursuit of a fifth consecutive state championship, while No. 15 boys face a loaded qualifying field with their own championship ambitions on the line.
The time for projections is over.
After months of summer miles, early morning practices, demanding workouts, and a regular season filled with memorable performances, the Pella Dutch cross country teams begin their postseason journey Wednesday, October 21, at the Class 3A State Qualifying Meet at Lakeview Country Club in Winterset.
For the Pella girls, the objective is familiar: earn another trip to Fort Dodge and take the next step toward a fifth consecutive Class 3A state championship.
For the boys, the road is considerably more challenging. The Dutch enter a loaded qualifying field featuring four of Iowa’s top 15 ranked Class 3A teams, with only three advancing to the state championships.
The girls will race at 4:00 p.m., followed by the boys at 4:40 p.m.
The stakes are straightforward. The top three teams in each race advance to the state championships, while individual qualification provides an additional path for runners whose teams do not advance.
At this point in the season, rankings provide context, but they cannot determine the outcome. Every team must earn its place at the starting line in Fort Dodge.
Girls Preview: The Road to Five Begins Here
The Pella girls enter Wednesday’s qualifying meet ranked No. 1 in Class 3A, carrying the expectations that accompany four consecutive state championships and another season among Iowa’s elite programs.
But it has been two weeks since the Dutch varsity lineup last raced.
Rather than competing during the final stretch of the regular season, Pella’s top runners have been focused on training, recovery, and preparation for the meets that matter most.
The State Qualifier represents their return to competition and the beginning of the final chapter in their Drive for Five.
Pella will be represented by Elsie Brenneman, Maechen Cowman, Ruth Dunham, Ellie Hardman, Dana McCulla, Lizzy Vande Voort, and Erica Vos.
It’s a lineup capable of placing multiple runners near the front of the race, but the challenge extends beyond individual performances. Pella’s greatest strength throughout its championship run has been its ability to compete as a complete team, with runners supporting one another through the middle and back portions of the scoring lineup.
That depth will once again be important as the Dutch look to secure their trip to Fort Dodge.
Understanding the Individual Rankings
Those reviewing the October 12 individual rankings may notice something unusual: several of Pella’s leading runners are absent.
That absence is not an indication of declining performances or changing expectations.
Under the Iowa Association of Track Coaches ranking committee’s policy, athletes who have not raced within the designated period are removed from the individual rankings. With Pella’s varsity runners having gone two weeks without competition, the published rankings no longer provide an accurate picture of the Dutch’s individual strength.
Carleigh Altwine, ranked No. 23 in the latest list, is Pella’s lone representative among the published top 30, although she is not part of Wednesday’s announced varsity lineup. A testament to the depth of this team.
With Brenneman, Vande Voort, Dunham, Cowman, and the rest of the varsity group returning to competition, Wednesday will provide a much clearer picture of where the Dutch stand entering the state championships.
The Girls’ Competition
Although Pella enters as the top-ranked team, the Winterset qualifier includes several programs capable of making the competition interesting.
Four other teams in the field appear in the latest Class 3A top 20.
| Rank | Girls Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | Pella |
| 8 | North Polk |
| 15 | Winterset |
| 16 | Ballard |
| 20 | Boone |
Source: IATC Class 3A team rankings, October 12, 2026.
North Polk enters as the strongest ranked challenger, while host Winterset, Ballard, and Boone will be looking to secure one of the three available team berths.
The individual race should also feature several talented runners.
Winterset junior Ava Hope, ranked No. 7 in Class 3A, will compete on her home course and enters as one of the leading contenders for the individual title.
North Polk brings two ranked runners in No. 20 Alexis Hergenreter and No. 25 Brooke Bell. Boone’s Emmalyn Thomas is ranked No. 27, and Ballard’s Avilee Miller enters at No. 28.
For Pella, the immediate priority is straightforward: advance its entire team to the state meet.
But this race is also an opportunity to reestablish competitive rhythm after two weeks away from racing, execute a disciplined team strategy, and carry confidence into the final week of the Iowa season.
The Dutch have spent the season preparing for championship racing.
Now the championship season begins.
Boys Preview: A Battle for Three Tickets to Fort Dodge
If the girls enter Winterset as the clear favorite, the boys find themselves in an entirely different position.
The Pella boys are ranked No. 15 in Class 3A, and their state qualifying assignment places them alongside three teams ranked ahead of them.
| Rank | Boys Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | Gilbert |
| 13 | Bondurant-Farrar |
| 14 | Benton Community |
| 15 | Pella |
Source: IATC Class 3A team rankings, October 12, 2026.
Four ranked teams. Three qualifying positions.
Gilbert enters as the top-ranked team in Class 3A and the three-time defending state champion. The Tigers are pursuing their fourth consecutive state title, led by Logan Bleich, who has broken 15 minutes multiple times this season, and No. 1-ranked Jacob Tallman.
Pella arrives with a postseason streak of its own. The Dutch have earned a state trophy in four consecutive seasons and are determined to extend that run to five.
Two programs with championship traditions. Two very different positions entering Wednesday’s qualifier.
While Gilbert enters as the clear favorite on paper, the competition behind the Tigers could be considerably closer.
Bondurant-Farrar, Benton Community, and Pella occupy three consecutive positions in the state rankings, setting up a battle in which a handful of finishing places could determine which teams advance to Fort Dodge.
For Pella, this is the first major postseason test of a new generation of varsity runners following the graduation of five seniors from last year’s team.
Before the Dutch can chase a fifth consecutive state trophy, they must first earn the opportunity to compete for one.
And Wednesday’s qualifier provides little room for error.
Dutch Boys Finding Momentum at the Right Time
Pella will send Jonah Ebersole, Porter Carlton, Zander Kanis, Sam Keller, Silas Gaulke, Jonah Dunham, and Brant Vande Voort to the starting line.
The Dutch have experienced a season of transition after graduating five seniors from last year’s team, forcing a new group of athletes into prominent varsity roles.
That development has not always been linear, but recent performances suggest that Pella may be finding its best form as the postseason arrives.
At the Little Hawkeye Conference Championships, Porter Carlton delivered his strongest race of the season, running 16:17 and demonstrating the ability to compete at the front of a strong field.
Jonah Ebersole enters the qualifying meet ranked No. 23 individually in Class 3A and provides another important presence near the front of the Dutch lineup.
The development of Pella’s supporting runners could ultimately decide the team’s postseason fate.
Brant Vande Voort, who ran a personal best of 17:17 at the conference championships after recording a best of 18:18 as a freshman last season, has shown meaningful improvement at precisely the right time.
Sam Keller, Zander Kanis, Silas Gaulke, and Jonah Dunham also carry important responsibilities in a race where every position matters.
For Pella to advance, strong performances from its leaders must be matched by a collective effort from the rest of the lineup.
Cross country championships and qualifying berths are rarely determined by one runner alone.
They are earned through the combined efforts of five scorers, with sixth and seventh runners often providing critical insurance in close competitions.
The Boys’ Individual Contenders
The Winterset field features some of Class 3A’s premier individual talent, including two athletes with legitimate state championship aspirations.
Gilbert’s Logan Bleich enters as the clear favorite for the individual title at Wednesday’s qualifier and one of the leading contenders for the Class 3A state championship. Bleich has broken the 15-minute barrier multiple times this season, establishing himself among Iowa’s elite distance runners.
Like several members of Pella’s girls team, Bleich is absent from the October 12 individual rankings because of the ranking committee’s inactivity policy. His absence from the published list should not be mistaken for a reflection of his competitive standing.
Gilbert also brings senior Jacob Tallman, currently ranked No. 1 in Class 3A, and No. 18 Zach Stevermer, giving the top-ranked Tigers exceptional firepower at the front of the field.
Bondurant-Farrar junior Ryler Hanson, ranked No. 7, is another leading contender.
For Pella, senior Jonah Ebersole, ranked No. 23, will look to compete among the top runners while helping the Dutch secure team qualification. Porter Carlton, coming off a season-best 16:17 at the Little Hawkeye Conference Championships, adds another strong presence near the front of the Pella lineup.
With Gilbert capable of placing multiple runners among the early finishers, the competition behind the leaders could become especially important in determining the final team standings.
For the Dutch, the key will be competing effectively throughout the field. Every runner passed, every position defended, and every second gained on a nearby opponent could make the difference between advancing to Fort Dodge as a team or seeing the season come to an end.
In a qualifier featuring four ranked teams competing for three state berths, every finishing position matters.
The Course: Lakeview Country Club
Wednesday’s races will be contested over the 5,000-meter course at Lakeview Country Club in Winterset.
The course presents a different challenge from some of the faster layouts the Dutch have encountered this season.
Its rolling terrain and changes in elevation create opportunities for runners who manage their effort effectively and maintain their rhythm through demanding sections.
Unlike flatter courses where fast opening splits can be easier to sustain, Lakeview rewards disciplined pacing and the ability to continue competing as fatigue accumulates.
Previous results suggest that times at Lakeview may not translate directly to performances on faster courses elsewhere in Iowa.
For the Dutch, that makes the emphasis especially clear.
The clock will not determine who advances. Place will.
Runners who remain patient, respond to changing race conditions, and compete for every position through the finish line will put their teams in the best position to succeed.
With a trip to Fort Dodge at stake, this is a day for racing competitors rather than chasing personal records.
Pella’s State Qualifying Lineups
Girls Varsity — 4:00 p.m.
| Athlete |
|---|
| Elsie Brenneman |
| Maechen Cowman |
| Ruth Dunham |
| Ellie Hardman |
| Dana McCulla |
| Lizzy Vande Voort |
| Erica Vos |
Boys Varsity — 4:40 p.m.
| Athlete |
|---|
| Porter Carlton |
| Jonah Dunham |
| Jonah Ebersole |
| Silas Gaulke |
| Zander Kanis |
| Sam Keller |
| Brant Vande Voort |
What’s at Stake: Qualifying for State
In Class 3A, the top three finishing teams in each race automatically qualify for the Iowa State Cross Country Championships at Kennedy Park in Fort Dodge on Saturday, October 31.
Individually, the top 15 finishers also qualify, even if their team does not advance.
An additional provision guarantees that at least five individuals from non-qualifying teams advance from each state qualifying site.
If fewer than five runners from non-qualifying teams finish among the top 15, additional individual qualifiers will be selected in finishing order until that minimum is reached.
For Pella’s boys, this creates two possible paths to Fort Dodge: advancing as a team or securing individual qualifying positions.
But the Dutch are focused on advancing all seven runners and continuing their pursuit of a fifth consecutive state trophy.
Meet Information
2026 Class 3A State Qualifying Meet
Date: Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Location: Lakeview Country Club — Winterset, Iowa
Girls Race: 4:00 p.m.
Boys Race: 4:40 p.m.
Distance: 5,000 meters
State Qualification: Top three teams and top 15 individuals, with a minimum of five individual qualifiers from non-advancing teams
Participating Teams: Ballard, Benton Community, Bondurant-Farrar, Boone, Carlisle, Clarke (Osceola), Des Moines Hoover, Gilbert, North Polk, Pella, Perry, Saydel, and Winterset.
One Race at a Time
For the Pella girls, Wednesday represents the first step toward history.
Four consecutive state championships have established an extraordinary standard, but the Dutch understand that another opportunity must be earned before anything can be added to that legacy.
For the boys, the challenge is immediate and unmistakable. A season spent developing a new lineup and finding its identity now comes down to one afternoon against some of the strongest programs in Class 3A.
The paths may look different, but the objective is the same.
Seven runners. Five scorers. One opportunity to advance.
The Drive for Five continues Wednesday in Winterset.