After three remarkable seasons leading the Pella distance program in both cross country and on the oval, a multiple-time individual and team state champion is aiming to lead the way for the No. 2 ranked boys team into this fall and beyond.

Canaan Dunham, ranked 2nd in the 3A preseason individual standings, is pushing for national competition goals while assuming the senior leadership role of the Dutch boys, fresh off of a 3rd place finish in Class 3A cross country state meet and a runner-up track and field team placement. Dunham, who won the 2023 individual state 5K title in Fort Dodge and anchored his the 4×800 relay to a championship this past May at Drake Stadium, aims to be the key in driving that success weekly this season.

Pella Head Cross Country Coach Doug Cutler says Canaan focused on his mental state this summer following a hard push of training to work to keep up with fellow elite runners in Iowa and the Midwest, and he’s hopeful an aim on that side of things will allow Dunham to shine even more heading into his final two seasons racing for the green and white.

“He leaves me a little speechless,” Cutler says. “Because of the comparisons people can make and the competition that’s out there, you can risk not being as astounded as we should be. The thing I would say about his summer is that he allowed himself a little bit of freedom and took a little bit more of a break than some people might anticipate, but I think he’s coming into this season now with a very fresh perspective, and a very clean slate of what he can do and how he wants to go about it.”

Dunham was a key member of the 2022 boys state team title in cross country and again in the 2023 championship for the track and field team. Pella opens the XC season in 5K events on Saturday, August 30th at Cedar Rapids Prairie.