The heat is on. So is Iowa’s cross country season. However, temperatures in the 90s and edging above 100 in many locales this week, have school administrators near their screens or phones, ready to pass along word if ‘meets are on, delayed, or cancelled.’
For the Solon Spartans and Lady Spartans cross country teams, a late week decision could impact their Saturday morning. Their August 26 season opener at Anamosa was already scheduled for a morning start, attempting to beat the heat.
“We are hoping that the weather will cool down and it will be a great morning to run,” said Coach Emy Williams. “Our first two weeks of practice have been going great and everyone is working hard. The weather has been great until this week.” To help combat the heat, the 50+ Solon runners have been practicing in the morning on many days or being creative and working out inside. The 6:15 starts help get more work done outside before the heat can be felt.
“We always encourage our runners to be drinking water too,” underscores Williams. “This week especially, we are making sure that their water bottles aren’t far from them. We are hoping that the weather will cool down and it will be a great morning to run.”
Heading into the first week of competition, defending Class 3A girls champ Pella remains on top. Last year’s runner up, Ballard, sits there again. Solon is eighth, as most teams open their seasons this week or weekend. On the boys’ side, Pella also sits atop 3A. Mount Vernon-Lisbon is fourth with Solon sixth.
Iowa Association of Track Coaches (IATC) Class 3A preseason rankings (released Tuesday, August 15)
Boys
1 Pella
2 Carlisle
3 Gilbert
4 Mount Vernon-Lisbon
5 Lewis Central
6 Solon
7 MOC-Floyd Valley
8 Glenwood
9 ADM, Adel
10 Clear Creek Amana
11 Winterset
12 North Polk
13 Marion
14 Fort Madison
15 Epworth, Western Dubuque
16 South Tama
17 Center Point-Urbana
18 Nevada
19 Washington
20 Sioux Center
Girls
1 Pella
2 Ballard
3 ADM, Adel
4 Washington
5 Mount Vernon-Lisbon
6 Clear Lake
7 Glenwood
8 Solon
9 Center Point-Urbana
10 Gilbert
11 Bishop Heelan, Sioux City
12 Clear Creek Amana
13 Harlan
14 Carlisle
15 Atlantic
16 MOC-Floyd Valley
17 Decorah
18 Fort Madison
19 Waverly-Shell Rock
20 Marion