Oskaloosa’s cross country teams will open their seasons next Tuesday (8/31), when they run at a meet at Williamsburg.  Indians Coach Michael Comfort talks about his returning runners.

“We have Patrick DeRonde and he’s a two-time State qualifier.  So he’s come back for senior year.  I know he’s got high goals.  Like I say, we have a strong senior class and good leaders on the guys like William Leonard and Aden Scott.  And for the girls, you have seniors like Sage Adam and Addi Carter. A group of good kids and I think we’ll keep doing our best to get better.”

Oskaloosa will host its invitational cross country meet Tuesday, September 14 at Edmundson Park.

The Iowa Association of Track Coaches has released its preseason rankings of individual cross country runners.  In Class 3A boys, Chase Lauman of Pella is ranked 16^th, Oskaloosa’s Patrick DeRonde 23^rd and Jackson Mace of Newton is 24^th.  In 3A girls, Knoxville’s Norah Pearson is ranked ninth with Pella teammates Jacie Trine ranked 22^nd and Autumn Blink 30^th.  In 2A boys, Dawson Bonnett of Albia is ranked 19^th.  And in Class 1A girls, Rylee Dunkin of Twin Cedars is ranked sixth, Greenlee Smock of Lynnville-Sully is ranked seventh, with Pekin teammates Lauren Steigledger 14^th and Lauren Derscheid 28^th.