It may be an early taste of what the state meet will look like as several top ranked cross country teams converge in Huxley today at the Ballard Invitational, including the Little and Lady Dutch. The girls race features 3A ranked No. 1 Ballard, No. 3 DCG, No. 6 Norwalk, No. 7 Atlantic, No. 8 North Polk, and team to watch Humboldt. The boys race has No. 1 in 3A Carlisle, No. 2 DCG, No. 3 Gilbert, No. 5 Norwalk, No. 7 Pella, No. 8 North Polk, and No. 11 Atlantic, as well as No. 2 in 2A South Hardin and No. 2 in 1A Madrid and No. 4 in 1A Nodaway Valley. It’s the beginning of a challenging week for Pella, as Central will host some of the best high school cross country teams in the Midwest at the Heartland Classic Saturday. Today’s Ballard Invitational begins at 4:30 p.m. in Huxley.