With the postseason approaching, the Pella Running Dutch cross country teams turn their attention to championship racing Tuesday, October 13, at the Little Hawkeye Conference Championships in Oskaloosa.

The meet at Edmundson Park brings together nine conference programs, including an impressive collection of ranked teams and individuals from three different Iowa high school classifications.

For the Dutch girls, ranked No. 1 in Class 3A, the opportunity is to continue building momentum toward a fifth consecutive state championship. For the boys, ranked No. 15 in Class 3A, the focus remains on developing the consistency and depth necessary to pursue a fifth consecutive state trophy.

But before those postseason ambitions take center stage, both teams face a challenging conference championship.

Seven of the nine participating schools have ranked teams in both the boys’ and girls’ fields, creating the potential for two highly competitive varsity races.

The varsity girls will race at 5:25 p.m., followed by the varsity boys at 5:50 p.m.

Girls Championship: Pella Faces Its Strongest Conference Challengers

Photo by Andrew Schneider

The girls’ championship features one of the most intriguing matchups in Iowa cross country: the top two ranked teams in Class 3A competing for the same conference title.

Pella enters ranked No. 1, while Des Moines Christian holds the No. 2 position. (As of Oct 5th)

The Dutch have established themselves as one of the state’s premier programs, highlighted by their victory at the Gans Creek Classic in Missouri, where they defeated a competitive interstate field.

Last Thursday, Pella returned to the track for the HOKA Postal Nationals 3200-meter challenge, recording a combined top-five time of 55:50.59, an average of 11:10.12 per runner. This time currently sits at number one in the nation with several more weeks of races still to be run.

Senior Elsie Brenneman led the Dutch with a 10:29.48 performance, while freshman Maechen Cowman (11:05.22) and Lizzy Vande Voort (11:07.28) added strong efforts.

The event provided another opportunity to sharpen racing fitness before the return to 5K competition Tuesday.

However, the conference championship will present a different challenge.

Des Moines Christian enters with a talented lineup led by Elyse Erzen, ranked fourth individually in Class 3A, and Annie Bruxvoort, ranked 16th. The Lions have demonstrated considerable depth throughout their scoring five, making them a legitimate challenger.

Beyond the two Class 3A powers, Dallas Center-Grimes and Norwalk bring strong Class 4A credentials.

DCG enters ranked No. 7 in Class 4A, while Norwalk is No. 13. The two teams finished just 14 points apart at the recent Fort Dodge Invitational, suggesting another close matchup could be developing.

Ames, ranked No. 18 in Class 4A, and Pella Christian, ranked No. 15 in Class 2A, add further depth to the championship field.

For Pella, the key will be the strength of its entire scoring lineup.

The Dutch have demonstrated the ability to place multiple runners near the front while maintaining the depth necessary to limit opponents’ scoring opportunities.

Against a field featuring several ranked programs, that balance could be decisive.

Girls Team Rankings

October 5 Iowa Association of Track Coaches Rankings

Girls Individual Championship: A Talented Group at the Front

The individual girls’ race could feature several of Iowa’s strongest distance runners competing together.

Pella’s Elsie Brenneman enters ranked second in Class 3A and will be among the leading contenders for the conference title.

Brenneman’s 10:29 performance at HOKA Postal Nationals demonstrated her speed heading into the championship portion of the season.

However, she will face significant competition.

Dallas Center-Grimes’ Tenley Heidgerken is ranked second in Class 4A and has established herself among the state’s leading runners. Ames’ Emma Stanley, ranked sixth in Class 4A, is another athlete capable of challenging at the front.

Des Moines Christian’s Elyse Erzen, ranked fourth in Class 3A, will also be a contender.

For the Dutch, freshman Maechen Cowman, junior Lizzy Vande Voort, and senior Ruth Dunham add considerable strength near the front of the field. Cowman enters ranked fifth in Class 3A, while Dunham is eighth.

That gives Pella three runners ranked among the top eight in its classification.

The ability of Brenneman, Cowman, Vande Voort and Dunham to establish strong positions early could play a significant role in the team championship.

The battle behind the leaders will be equally important.

Pella’s Ellie Hardman, ranked 17th in Class 3A, and Erica Vos, ranked 20th, will look to provide additional scoring strength.

Dana McCulla completes the Dutch varsity lineup, giving Pella several athletes capable of contributing to the team result.

Girls Individual Contenders

The combination of ranked individuals across multiple classifications should make the race at the front particularly competitive.

Boys Championship: Multiple Teams With Title Potential

Photo by Andrew Schneider

The boys’ conference championship may be one of the most competitive races of the evening.

Dallas Center-Grimes enters as the highest-ranked Class 4A program in the field at No. 4, while Pella Christian brings a No. 2 ranking in Class 2A.

Des Moines Christian is ranked ninth in Class 3A, and Pella enters at No. 15.

Norwalk, Indianola, and Ames are also ranked in Class 4A.

While rankings across classifications cannot be directly compared, the depth of the field suggests that the championship will be decided by much more than the performances of a few front-runners.

Boys Team Rankings

October 5 Iowa Association of Track Coaches Rankings

Three Teams With Different Strengths

Dallas Center-Grimes enters with the credentials of a top-five Class 4A program and figures to be among the leading contenders.

The Mustangs bring three runners ranked among the top 17 in Class 4A, led by Graham Ibeling (No. 11), Jack Meggison (No. 15), and Noah Kerndt (No. 17). That combination of front-running talent and team depth makes DCG a formidable championship contender.

Des Moines Christian presents a different challenge.

As of October 5th, the Lions do not currently have an individual ranked among the top 30 in Class 3A, their recent performances suggest they could be a major factor near the front of Tuesday’s race.

Josiah Sisler, Luke McCormick, and Dillon Dorenkamp all broke 16:47 at Thursday’s Saydel Invitational, finishing within 18 seconds of one another.

That kind of front-running strength can create an early scoring advantage, although the Lions will need contributions farther back in the lineup to compete for the team title.

Pella Christian brings another dimension to the championship.

The Eagles, ranked second in Class 2A, have demonstrated exceptional pack-running ability. At the Chariton Invitational, fewer than 50 seconds separated their first and fifth runners.

Led by ranked individuals Will Vanden Bosch (No. 23), Joel Pogany (No. 26), and Griffin Stoltz (No. 29), Pella Christian has the depth to make every scoring position count.

The contrast between Dallas Center-Grimes’ ranked front three, Des Moines Christian’s recent speed, and Pella Christian’s tightly grouped scoring pack creates an intriguing championship matchup.

Running Dutch Boys Look to Make Their Mark

For Pella, Tuesday provides an opportunity to continue the progress that has defined the boys’ season.

The Dutch have shown improvement throughout the fall, with seniors Jonah Ebersole and Porter Carlton emerging as the team’s leading runners.

Ebersole enters ranked 19th in Class 3A, while Carlton is ranked 28th, giving the Dutch two individually ranked athletes heading into the conference championship.

Both have broken 17 minutes for 5K this season, and both ran under 10:10 during Thursday’s HOKA Postal Nationals 3200-meter challenge.

Those performances position Ebersole and Carlton to challenge a talented group of individual contenders Tuesday.

But the Dutch’s team success will depend on much more than their leading pair.

Zander Kanis, Sam Keller, Jonah Dunham, Brant Vande Voort, and Browne complete the projected varsity lineup.

Against teams with strong front-runners and considerable depth, the performance of Pella’s third through fifth runners could make a significant difference in the final standings.

The Dutch will need to compete aggressively through the middle of the field, where positions can change quickly and every runner passed can affect the team score.

For a program pursuing a fifth consecutive state trophy, conference competition provides an important opportunity to develop the consistency required for postseason success.

Boys Individual Championship: A Competitive Front Pack

The boys’ individual championship promises a compelling race featuring ranked athletes from three classifications and several additional runners capable of challenging near the front.

Dallas Center-Grimes brings three of the highest-ranked individuals in the conference, led by Graham Ibeling, Jack Meggison, and Noah Kerndt.

Pella Christian counters with three ranked Class 2A athletes in Will Vanden Bosch, Joel Pogany, and Griffin Stoltz.

For the Running Dutch, Ebersole and Carlton enter ranked 19th and 28th, respectively, in Class 3A. Their recent performances suggest both could compete among the leading runners Tuesday.

Des Moines Christian could also play a significant role in the individual championship. Although the Lions do not have an athlete currently ranked among the top 30 in Class 3A, their recent performances demonstrate that rankings alone do not tell the entire story.

Norwalk’s Oliver Tice, ranked 30th in Class 4A, adds another talented runner to the field.

With so many athletes capable of competing near the front, the individual championship could have a significant influence on the team standings.

Boys Individual Contenders

A Championship Opportunity for the Entire Program

While the varsity championships will draw considerable attention, Tuesday also offers opportunities for Pella’s junior varsity and middle school runners.

The middle school girls begin competition at 3:30 p.m., followed by the middle school boys at 4:00 p.m.

The JV girls will race at 4:30 p.m., with the JV boys following at 5:00 p.m.

These races represent an important part of the program’s development.

The depth of the Running Dutch has been built through athletes competing at every level, challenging one another in training, and contributing to a culture where improvement is valued throughout the roster.

For many runners, the conference championship represents an opportunity to finish this portion of the season with a strong performance against familiar opponents.

The Road to State Runs Through Oskaloosa

With the postseason approaching, Tuesday’s championship is about more than conference standings.

For the girls, the pursuit of a fifth consecutive state championship remains the larger objective. The Dutch have demonstrated the ability to compete against elite competition, but maintaining that standard requires continued improvement and consistent performances throughout the lineup.

For the boys, the goal of a fifth consecutive state trophy remains within sight. Conference competition offers another opportunity to measure progress and identify the improvements necessary for the races ahead.

The conference varsity lineups also do not represent final postseason roster selections.

Competition for positions on the state qualifying teams continues, giving athletes throughout the program additional motivation as the championship season begins.

The lessons from Tuesday’s races—competing in traffic, responding to surges, maintaining contact with teammates, and finishing with determination—will carry directly into the weeks ahead.

The championship season has arrived, and the Running Dutch are ready for their next test.

Meet Information

2026 Little Hawkeye Conference Cross Country Championships
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
Edmundson Park — Oskaloosa, Iowa

Participating Schools: Ames, Dallas Center-Grimes, Des Moines Christian, Indianola, Newton, Norwalk, Oskaloosa, Pella Christian, and Pella.

Live Results: ResultsCM.com