Knoxville and Pella High have consistently asserted themselves as some of the top cross country programs in the state, and that trend isn’t expected to be broken this season.  Preseason team rankings were released this past week by the Iowa Association of Track Coaches, and Doug Cutler’s teams will start the full with some fairly big targets on their backs.  

The Lady Dutch are the No. 1-ranked program in Class 3A; edging out perennial powers Davenport Assumption and Dubuque Wahlert.  On the boys’ side, the Pella boys are again expected to be strong, despite losing individual champion Zach Buchheit from last year’s state title squad.  The Little Dutch are ranked No. 2 in the preseason poll, behind Decorah.  

Knoxville’s boys program returns four varsity runners from a season ago and are ranked No. 7, just behind another Little Hawkeye Conference team – Grinnell.  The Panthers get an early jump on their season with a home triangular on Monday with Norwalk and Wayne at Pine Knolls Country Club.  

Pella High opens their cross country schedule this coming Saturday at Cedar Rapids Prairie.