Storylines to follow at this weekend's ND state cross country championships

BISMARCK – The stage is set for the North Dakota Class A State Cross Country Championships this Saturday, October 24, at the Parkhurst Recreation Area near Pipestem Reservoir in Jamestown. 
With powerhouse teams clashing, historic conference streaks on the line, and chasing rare individual milestones, here are the top five storylines and potentional all-state runners to watch.

1. Century vs. Davies: A Collision of Titans for the Boys Crown
The boys team race is shaping up to be a good one between top-rankedBismarck Century (WDA champion) and No. 2 Fargo Davies (EDC champion). The Patriots pack quite a punch in the front half of the field, boasting four runners inside the top 10 of the final coaches’ poll: Hudson Bullinger (No. 3), Hayden Anderson (No. 5), Bracston Kaufman (No. 6), and Jack Elsberry (No. 10). Fargo Davies counters with top-ranked individual Luka Rout, backed closely by Keagan Thompson (No. 8) and Kaj Naujokas (No. 9).In a race this tightly contested, the outcome will hinge on the displacement battle between Century’s fifth runner and Davies’ scoring pack.

2. Can Davies end the two-decade EDC Boys title drought? 
History looms large over the boys’ race. A WDA program has captured every single Class A boys state championship since 2004. The last Eastern Dakota Conference team to hoist the trophy was Fargo South back in 2003. Davies enters Jamestown with the credentials to snap that 20-year streak, while Bismarck Century aims to add a fifth state championship trophy to its cabinet (previously winning in 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020).

3. Ruby Ihmels chases history 
Senior Bismarck Century senior Ruby Ihmels stands on the precipice of North Dakota cross country immortality. Having won back-to-back state individual titles, the top-ranked standout enters as the clear favorite to capture her third consecutive Class A crown.If Ihmels defends her title on Saturday, she will become just the fourth girl in NDHSAA Class A history to complete a three-peat, joining an elite club headlined most recently by Jamestown legend Meghan Ford (2018, 2019, 2020). Chasing her down will be a talented field led by Mandan’s Hayva Weisbeck (No. 2 ranked), Williston’s Cambree Moss (No. 3), and Davies' Brielle Stevens (No. 4).

4. Century girls poised to end a 12-Year team title drought
While the Century boys have been frequent contenders over the past decade, the top-ranked Patriot girls enter Saturday as heavy favorites to capture a team championship that has eluded the program since 2014.The squad was runner-up at state a season ago to WDA rival Willison. 
Led by Ihmels upfront, Century also features Audrey Echelbarger (No. 6) and Julia Simmers (No. 8) among the top 10 individual rankings. Standing between them and the podium are WDA rival No. 2 Williston and EDC champion No. 3 Fargo Davies, both eager to capitalize on any slip-ups over the 5,000-meter course.

5. A wide-Open Battle for the Vacant boys Individual Crown
With 2024 champion Owen Hintz of Bismarck High having graduated, the boys individual race is guaranteed to crown a first-time state champion. Fargo Davies’junior Luka Rout holds the No. 1 ranking heading into the weekend, but Fargo Shanley’s Ethan Erickson (No. 2) and Century’s Hudsen Bullinger (No. 3) have shown the wheels to take command of a championship race. Throw in Grand Forks Red River’s Cohen Dunnigan (No. 4) and Watford City’s Dehico Bocanegra Tovar (No. 7), and the lead pack should see tactical moves early before a decisive push across the Parkhurst hills.

All-state watch

And while some teams will not be in the running for a high team finish, having an individual place in the top 20 and earn all-state honors is still impressive. 
Based on regular-season form, regional results, and the latest coaches’ poll, the Western Dakota Association is positioned to claim a hefty percentage of those 40 total spots across multiple programs.
Five WDA runners are ranked in the state's top 10 alone, but the conference's depth extends well into the projected 11–20 bubble. Century's All-State Ambition: Century is aiming to put as many as 4–5 runners on the All-State podium. Led by Hudsen Bullinger (No. 3), Hayden Anderson (No. 5), Bracston Kaufman (No. 6), and Jack Elsberry (No. 10), their pack represents the foundation of their team title run.
WDA representation across the schools: Unlike years where one dominant school hoards the podium, multiple WDA programs have legitimate 
all-state contenders
Watford City: Dehico Bocanegra Tovar (ranked No. 7) gives the Wolves a high-profile presence near the front. 
Williston: Consistently ranked No. 3 in Class A, Williston's top runners (including Travis Frise and Tyler Asprey) are primed to crack the top 20 pack.   
Bismarck High and Mandan: Both ranked inside the state's team top five, the Demons and Braves regularly rely on runners like Mandan's Yates White Buffalo to challenge the mid-pack bubble between 12th and 20th.
If the WDA runners execute, the conference could claim anywhere from 11 to 14 of the 20 available boys All-State spots, challenging an EDC squad led by Fargo Davies' Luka Rout, Keagan Thompson, Kaj Naujokas, Fargo Shanley's Ethan Erickson, and Grand Forks Red River's Cohen Dunnigan.
The girls race features strong individual frontrunners spread across the WDA, with six WDA athletes already holding top-10 billing: The Top 10 Contenders: Century's Ruby Ihmels (No. 1), Audrey Echelbarger (No. 6), and Julia Simmers (No. 8) lead the charge, flanked closely by Mandan's Hayva Weisbeck (No. 2) and Williston's Cambree Moss (No. 3).   
Bismarck High features Izzy Dahl (ranked No. 9) and Hannah Hintz, giving the Demons strong low-stick scoring toward All-State contention. Century’s Summer Olson and Minot High’s Kaylee Jackson also remain firmly in the mix to push into that top 20 window on race day. The WDA could secure 12 or more girls all-state runners, with the EDC relying on standouts like Brielle Stevens (Davies), Peyton Thompson (Red River), Riley Schmiess (Devils Lake) and Emmie Fellows (WF Sheyenne) to counter.   

Photo: Ruby Ihmels, Century (Photo by Loralyn Joyce)