The Pella High boys cross country team proved they will be a force to reckon with again this fall, sweeping Saturday’s season-opening meet at Cedar Rapids Prairie. Led by a second-place finish from Keegan Fitzsimmons, the Little Dutch placed six runners in the top ten; en route to a first-place team score of 25.

Evan Jones and Matthew Klein followed Fitzsimmons at 3rd and 4th place, respectively, with Wade Pingel claiming 7th place and Michael Schemm and Ryan Sievers taking 9th and 10th. All seven varsity runners for the Pella High boys were seniors. The Little Dutch also claimed first place in the freshman/sophomore and JV races at Cedar Rapids Prairie, with Ben Warner and Aaron Houtz each claiming individual golds.

The Pella High girls varsity team had to run without Hannah Pickett, but still finished in fifth place in the team standings – Solon claimed the team title. The Lady Dutch were led by medalists Gabi Meirick (5th), Victoria Kleven (13th) and Ashley Kirkland (18th). Pella’s JV girls took third place – led by Becky Visser’s 6th place finish – and placed fifth in the freshman/sophomore race; paced by a 19th-place finish from Karen Ernst.

The Pella High cross country teams will continue to train this week for their much-anticipated “home” meet at this coming Saturday’s Central College Invitational.