Five question heading into the Class A championships

JAMESTOWN – The 2024 Class A cross country championships will again be held at the trail course at Parkhurst Recreation Area just outside of Jamestown on Saturday afternoon, Oct 26. The boys race is at 2 p.m. with girls to follow. The venue has provided a great challenge and atmosphere for the state's biggest distance event. This year’s meet is being live-streamed by WDAY. Here are five questions heading into the meet.

Will the WDA's dominance in the boys' team race continue?

Since 2004, the WDA has won every team title. Those trophies have been shared by just three teams. Bismarck High, Bismarck Century and Williston. During this stretch Williston (2004, 2018, 2021, 2022) and Century (2016, 2017, 2019, 2020) have won four championships while BHS has won 12 (2005-2015, 2023). The Demons are the strong favorite to repeat with four runners ranked in the top 5 of the final coaches' poll.

Will a brother-sister duo capture individual titles again?

Bismarck Century senior Wil Ihmels and sophomore Ruby Ihmels have been dominant this fall. The two moved into the district this summer from Idaho and have been ranked No. 1 in coaches' polls nearly all season. The pair captured individual titles at the WDA championships earlier this month in Watford City, and if they can win races this weekend, would just be the second siblings to win in the same year. If the Ihmels name sounds familiar, you're correct. Their father Corey Ihmels was a three-time champion for Williston (1989-91). The only other time that happened was in 1996 when Jamestown's Justin and Jessica Schweitzer won state crowns. Justin finished the 5K race in 17:15 while Jessica completed the 4K course in 15:13. They also helped the Blue Jays sweep the team titles.

Which WDA girls' team could win the championship?

This fall has seen solid performances by a number of WDA programs. Six WDA teams have won at least one meet title and four have to be considered in the mix for a state championship. Bismarck High is the defending titleholder and its best performance came at the annual Anderson-Stavn event in Bismarck. Bismarck Legacy won the Border Battle in Grand Forks, a race that had several quality teams. Bismarck Century won the recent WDA Championships.  And Williston earned a title on the very course that will be used this weekend. The Coyotes captured the Jamestown Orriginals Invite in August which featured a good field of EDC and WDA teams.

How many WDA runners will earn all-state honors?

Twelve boys and 14 girls representing WDA teams finished in the top 20 for all-state honors a year ago. In 2022, there were 14 boys and 13 girls placing in the top 20, showcasing the conference's strength. There is a strong likelihood the WDA will again have double digit runners place high. Five boys' runners expected to vie for a top 10 finish include: Will Ihmels, Century; Owen Hintz, Bismarck High; Dawson Balzer, Bismarck High; Connor Ensign, Bismarck High; Jakson Ensign, Bismarck High.Here's five runners who missed out on boys' all-state honors a season ago, but could power into the top 20. Minot North's Dallin Chapman; Mandan's Charles Hale; Williston's Owen Cowan, Hunter Hart and Hunter Haugen. Five girls' runners that should be in the mix for a top 10 finish include Ruby Ihmels, Century; Taya Fettig and Izzy Dahl of Bismarck High; Eva Selensky, Legacy; and Lucy Harris, Minot High. And here's five runners who were close to all-state honors a season ago and could break through this week. Legacy's Ella Selensky and Lauren Woeste; Century's Addison Heck; Minot High's Kaylee Jackson; and Dickinson's Arabella Privratsky.

Who are the EDC's talented teams, runners?

While the WDA has enjoyed plenty of success throughout the years, the East also has its share of talented distance runners. In the boys division, G.F. Red River has been impressive. The Roughriders, who were ranked second in the final state coaches' poll, won the EDC Championships and had five runners in the top 20 at the meet. WF Sheyenne won the EDC girls' championships with four runners placing in the top 20. The Mustangs were ranked third in the final coaches' poll. Red River senior Joe Quinn was the EDC individual champion, completing the 5K course at Lincoln Park in Grand Forks in 15:54. West Fargo senior Alexis Lingren was the girls' EDC champ. She finished the 5K in a time of 19:19

Photo: Wil Ihmels, Bismarck Century