Kari Gibb/MDN Des Lacs-Burlington junior Brynn Hanson, seen here in competition last season, is the North Dakota High School Boys and Girls Cross Country Coaches Poll top female runner at the Class B listing

The 2024 fall sports seasons have gotten off to a stellar start. One of the lesser known team sports is the fall cross country circuit. Teams kicked off in late August with meets in the waning supper heat.

At the Class A level, the Jamestown “Orr”igional was one of the larger starting points along with other meets for the Class B teams. The Wahpeton Invitational was last week along with the Mandan and Bowman County meets. Several more meets will take place throughout September at locations like Watford City, Williston, Sioux Fall, Moorhead, Bismarck, Central Cass, Minot and Rugby.

All the meets and invitationals are helping prep teams and individuals for the 2024 North Dakota High School Activities Association Cross Country State Meet.

The state meet will be held October 25 (Class B races) and October 26 (Class A races) at Jamestown’s Parkhurst Campground/Pipestem Reservoir in Jamestown.

As the competition heats up while the weather cools down, the North Dakota High School Boys and Girls Cross Country Coaches Poll of the 2024 season has been released and local athletes have landed atop the Class B girls roster.

Des Lacs-Burlington junior Brynn Hanson was voted at the top of the individual list for Class B girls with Rugby junior Hannah Senechal right behind her at second place. Rugby sophomore Keyara Lundstrom was voted at seventh place for two in the top ten and the Rugby girls team was voted as the second place team in Class B girls.

In the Class A boys voting, Bismarck High was named top team with four individuals in the top ten for individuals. In the Class A girls, Williston was named the top team. In the Class B boys, Bowman County was named the top pick with three individuals in the top ten.

Complete North Dakota Boys and Girls Cross Country Coaches Poll:

Class A Boys Team

1. Bismarck High

2. Grand Forks Red River

3. Williston

4. Bismarck Century

5. Fargo Shanley.

Class A Boys Individual

1. Owen Hintz (Bismarck High)

2. Wil Ihmels (Bismarck Century)

3. Elijah Dafoe (Grand Forks Red River)

4. Joe Quinn (Grand Forks Red River)

5. Owen Cowan (Williston)

6. Asher Lange (Fargo Davies)

7. Quinn Carroll (Fargo Shanley)

8. Dawson Balzer (Bismarck High)

9. Jakson Ensign (Bismarck High)

10. Connor Ensign (Bismarck High)

Class A Girls Team

1. Williston

2. West Fargo Sheyenne

3. Bismarck High

4. Fargo Shanley

5. Minot High.

Class A Girls Individual

1. Ruby Ihmels (Bismarck Century)

2. Emmi Ihry (Grand Forks Central)

3. Jillian Lemer (Bismarck Century)

4. Harley Jeannotte (Williston)

5. Lily Elbert (Fargo Shanley)

6. Ava Parks (Grand Forks Red River)

7. Kathryn Madrigga (West Fargo Sheyenne)

8. Izzy Dahl (Bismarck High)

9. Aubrey Kleser (Bismarck High)

10. Eva Selensky (Bismarck Legacy)

Class B Boys Team

1. Bowman County

2. Kindred

3. New Town

4. Ellendale

5. Hillsboro/Central Valley

Class B Boys Individual

1. Taylor Wanner (Bowman County)

2. Jonah Njos (Bowman County)

3. Owen Johnson (Northern Cass)

4. Xavier Bell (New Town)

5. Gabe Sarsland (Bowman County)

6. Elija Deck (Kindred)

7. Warner Bowman (Bowman County)

8. Gryphen Leier-Wangler (Bishop Ryan)

9. Jakori Dahlen (Killdeer)

10. Tyler Gronwold (Kindred)

Class B Girls Team

1. Central Cass

2. Rugby

3. Killdeer

4. Bowman County

5. Hillsboro/Central Valley.

Class B Girls Individual

1. Brynn Hanson (Des Lacs-Burlington)

2. Hannah Senechal (Rugby)

3. Kenadie Pazdernik (Carrington)

4. Addie Miller (Killdeer)

5. Abby Hardersen (Killdeer)

6. Jordyn Honeyman (Bowman County)

7. Keyara Lundstrom (Rugby)

8. Mara Kempel (Lisbon)

9. Emery Holland (Central Cass)

10. Tessa Guariglia (Bottineau)