For the first time since 1997, New Hampton has qualified as a team for the girls state cross country meet.
The Chickasaws took third in their district meet last week to advance to the Class 2A state meet in Fort Dodge Friday. Representing New Hampton will be Bailey Cox, Tegan Dungey, Kandice Eggerichs, Ella Knutson, Campbelle Kolbet, Natalie Nosbisch and Catherine Pethoud. New Hampton’s PJ Anderson has qualified for state in the boys competition.
A team state sendoff begins at 4 p.m. Thursday in the New Hampton High School cafeteria with an escort out of town down Main Street to follow.
North Fayette Valley, Cresco-Crestwood and Denver have also qualified girls 2A teams. Osage’s Katelyn Johnson and Sumner-Fredericksburg’s Hillary Trainor have qualified individually and are among the top contenders for the individual title. Crestwood’s Kinze Shea and New Hampton’s Campbelle Kolbet are also ranked in the top 10 in 2A.
South Winneshiek has qualified as a team in girls Class 1A, with individual area qualifiers including Kadence Huck of Nashua-Plainfield and Claire Rye of Central Springs. .
Other individual boys qualifiers include Charles City sophomores Xander Graeser and Nick Williams in Class 3A; Owen Almelien of North Butler Greene in 1A; and Dominic Bigalk of Cresco-Crestwood in 2A.
