(Harlan, IA) — Harlan Cross Country Head Coach Zach Klaassen is feeling pretty good after the start to the season. He says both the girls and guys are running their way into shape — the girls won the Glenwood meet and finished 2nd in late August in Shenandoah. Lilli Denton of St. Albert has graduated so the top runner in the Hawkeye Ten is open for competition. Harlan has two candidates in Junior Ashlyn Rau and Sophomore Julia Heslink — they finished 3rd and 2nd in Glenwood behind Grace Berglund of the Rams. Regardless of who is number one, Klaassen says Rau and Heslink are highly motivated
Junior Aspen Bieker is third on varsity; Senior Sadie Alberti, Senior Allie Anderson, Senior Ava Freund and Junior Josie Sonderman are competing each week for the 4th and 5th spots.
The Cyclones made it to the state meet last year and finished 9th and Klaassen says they have the ability to go back
On the Boys side, Jeffrey Gross won in the first meet in Shenandoah — he and Erik Heslink are both seniors and Klaassen says they are motivated to both run in Fort Dodge
Also for the boys, Sophomore Broden Schechinger is the number three runner; Senior Nathan Sandquist is at number four who is coming off a back injury and Klaassen says the 5th spot is a wide open battle among new runners.
Harlan has changed their schedule — instead of going to Le Mars tomorrow afternoon they will be going to Clarinda tomorrow which starts at 10:00 am.
Complete Interview with Head Coach Zach Klaassen
