Here are the top 10 times in Iowa high school boys cross country this season

Matt Levins, Des Moines Register
·3 min read
Runners make their way around the course during the Class 4A Iowa high school boys state cross country meet on Friday, Oct. 29, 2021, in Fort Dodge.
Runners make their way around the course during the Class 4A Iowa high school boys state cross country meet on Friday, Oct. 29, 2021, in Fort Dodge.

The high school boys cross country season already has passed the quarter pole and is getting ready to round the halfway point.

The cream is beginning to rise to the top as the state's best runners return from nagging injuries and round into shape for the October stretch run.

Eight of the top 10 times in the state are personal bests, and with just over half the season remaining, more records are sure to fall.

MORE: Here are the top 10 times in Iowa high school girls cross country this season

While comparing times in cross country is difficult, since every course is different, the top runners are nevertheless beginning to separate themselves from the rest of the pack and stake their claims as top contenders for state championships next month in Fort Dodge.

Here are the top 10 times in the state through Sept. 10. As the weather begins to cool, the times are about to heat up and the competition will rise to a fever pitch for the state qualifying meets Oct. 19-20.

1. Collin Lillie, Council Bluffs St. Albert, 14:52.70. The senior posted the state's top time thus far on Aug. 30 at Logan-Magnolia. Lillie placed eighth in Class 1A at last year's state meet.

2. Jackson Heidesch, West Des Moines Dowling, 14:57.10. The senior is the defending Class 4A state champion and set a new personal best in his first meet of the season Sept. 8 at the Marshalltown Bobcat Invitational.

3. Patrick Heffernan, Boyer Valley, 14:59.26. The senior clocked his time at the team's first meet of the season at Logan-Magnolia. Heffernan, one of just two runners on the team, finished 10th in Class 1A at last year's state meet.

4. Natnael Kifle, Sioux City North, 15:00.00. Kifle has helped North to the No. 12 spot in the latest Class 4A rankings. Kifle, who placed eighth in Class 4A a year ago, ran his time Sept. 2 at the Augustana Twilight meet in Yankton, South Dakota.

5. Miles Wilson, Cedar Rapids Kennedy, 15:19.00. Wilson, a senior, posted his time at a meet Sept. 8 at Seminole Valley Park in Cedar Rapids. He is one of two runners with top-10 times this season who did not qualify for state a year ago.

6. Gabe Nash, Sioux City North, 15:25.40. The senior is coming on strong, pushing his way toward the top in 4A. He ran his time at Yankton, South Dakota. He placed third at last year's state meet.

7. Carson Owens, Southeast Polk, 15:26.00. Owens, a senior, posted his time Sept. 1 at the Iowa State University course in Nevada. He placed 14th in 4A last season.

8. Jacob Mumey, Pleasant Valley, 15:35.50. The senior posted his season-best time Sept. 8 at Marshalltown. He placed 17th in Class 4A at last year's state meet.

9. Richard Gonzalez, Denison-Schleswig, 15:40.00. The sophomore is looking to qualify for state for the first time. Like two others in the top 10, he posted his season-best time at Logan-Magnolia.

10. Zach Sporaa, North Polk, 15:42.00. Sporaa, a senior, placed ninth in Class 3A last season., He ran his best time at the Iowa State course in Nevada on Sept. 8.

Matt Levins is a sports reporter for the USA Today Network in Burlington, Iowa, who has covered local sports for 32 years at The Hawk Eye. Reach him at mlevins@thehawkeye.com.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: The top 10 times in Iowa high school boys cross country this season