If you’ve ever stood on the edge of Lakeside Municipal Golf Course in Fort Dodge on a Friday in late October, you know the vibe. It’s a mix of damp grass, nervous energy, and the smell of various muscle rubs hanging in the crisp air. Honestly, the Iowa high school cross country results from this past season weren't just about numbers on a spreadsheet. They were about guts.
The 2025 state meet was basically a whirlwind. We saw powerhouse programs solidify their legacies and a few underdogs absolutely rip up the script. It wasn't just "another year" at the course.
The 4A Shakeup: Waukee Northwest and Cedar Falls Take Charge
Let's talk 4A. Most people expected the usual suspects to dominate, but the girls' race was a total thriller. Waukee Northwest ended up taking the gold with 67 points. They managed to jump ahead of heavy hitters like Pleasant Valley and Johnston. It was a tactical masterclass. Coach Pete Westerkamp was recently named the USTFCCCA Coach of the Year for a reason—the Wolves had five runners inside the top 25 of the scoring pack.
Laney Sundet was the spark plug for that squad, finishing as the individual runner-up.
On the boys' side, Cedar Falls lived up to the hype. They sat atop the rankings for a good chunk of the season and didn't blink when the pressure was on. Jaden Merrick is the name everyone is talking about, and for good reason. He clinched the top spot, proving why he's been the runner to watch all fall.
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4A Individual Standouts
- Jaden Merrick (Cedar Falls) - The 12th grader basically controlled the tempo from the gun.
- Piper Messerly (Dallas Center-Grimes) - Won the girls' side with a performance that felt almost effortless.
- Preston Johnson (Marshalltown) - Put up a massive fight to take second in the boys' race.
Why Chariton’s 2A Win Still Matters
If you want to talk about a perfect team race, look at the Chariton boys in Class 2A. They didn't just win; they dismantled the field. Scoring 42 points in a state meet is wild.
Their depth was terrifying for other teams. Lucas Anderson took 3rd, Cy Stuart grabbed 5th, and Cody Dixson rounded things out in 12th. When your "gap" between your first and fifth runner is that small, you're almost impossible to beat. Coach Eli Horton has built something special there. Honestly, it’s the kind of performance that coaches will be studying for the next few years.
Treynor also made waves on the girls' side for 2A, grabbing the team title with 121 points. It was a more spread-out race than the 4A slugfest, but the grit was the same.
The Small School Powerhouses: 1A Highlights
Class 1A is where the "small town, big dreams" trope actually becomes reality. Riverside, Oakland has been a name synonymous with 1A success lately, and 2025 was no different. They took the team title with a measly 54 points. That’s dominance.
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It's easy to overlook 1A because the schools are smaller, but the times being posted by guys like the Villa brothers from Columbus or the pack from Riverside are legit. They would hold their own in any class.
Quick Look: 3A Dominance
- Pella did exactly what Pella does. They took home the girls' 3A title.
- Gilbert secured the boys' 3A gold.
- The 3A individual race saw Andrew Rees from Washington and Iris Dahl putting up monster times.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Results
People love to look at the "State Rankings" from the week before the meet and assume they're a spoiler for the actual results. They aren't.
The Fort Dodge course is a different beast. It’s mostly flat, sure, but it’s fast. If a runner starts too hot because they're amped up on adrenaline, they’re basically toast by the time they hit the two-mile marker. We saw several highly-ranked runners fade in the final 800 meters this year because the pace was just suicidal from the start.
Also, the weather in Iowa is a coin flip. This year was relatively kind, but the "mental" side of the Iowa high school cross country results is often more important than the physical training. The teams that stayed calm in the chute were the ones that climbed the podium.
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Actionable Insights for Next Season
If you're a runner, parent, or coach looking at these results and wondering how to move up the leaderboard for 2026, here is the reality:
- Focus on the 2-to-5 gap. Chariton and Waukee Northwest didn't win because they had the fastest individual in the state. They won because their fifth runner was better than everyone else's fourth.
- Course Familiarity. If you can get a race in at Lakeside during the regular season, do it. Knowing where the footing gets soft and where to make a move on the back hills is a massive advantage.
- Ignore the rankings. They're fun for the fans, but they don't give you a head start. Use the 2025 times as a benchmark, not a ceiling.
The 2025 season is officially in the books, but the work for the next batch of Iowa high school cross country results starts on those dusty gravel roads in July. If you want to see the full breakdown of every class and every runner, you can head over to the IHSAA or IGHSAU sites, but the real story is always found on the course.
To stay ahead for next year, start tracking the returning sophomores and juniors who finished in the top 15 this year. Many of the 4A leaders were underclassmen, which means the 2026 season is going to be even faster. Keep an eye on the indoor track results this winter to see who is building that early-season speed.