Tomorrow runners from all across Iowa will descend on the Lakeside Municipal Golf Course in Fort Dodge for the 2018 Iowa State Cross Country meet. Three sophomores will represent the Adel-Desoto-Minburn Community School District at Saturday’s season finale, including Nate Mueller, Ethan Jurgens, and Hannah Welch. Mueller and Jurgens are competing at state for a second straight season while Welch is making her first appearance. As a freshman, Mueller placed 11th overall in the Class 3A boys field with a time of 16:30. The Raccoon Valley Radio Network visited with all three ADM state qualifying runners Thursday afternoon. Mueller said he medalled at last years state meet despite overcoming a personal obstacle. “My shoe fell off at the beginning of last years race,” Mueller said, ” (My shoe) was half on, I was stepping on the back of it. It was pretty annoying. That’s all I was thinking about the whole race (and) I don’t remember much else from (the) state (meet last year).”

With the shoe malfunction in the rearview mirror, Mueller shared with RVR that he has his sights on an individual championship. Jurgens and Welch both stated they’d like to run their best race of the season and stay with the lead pack for as long as possible. The 2018 Iowa State Cross Country Meet starts at 11 a.m. tomorrow from Fort Dodge. Welch will run in the Class 3A girls race at noon, and Mueller and Jurgens will follow at 12:30 p.m. in the Class 3A boys race. The Raccoon Valley Radio Network will bring you live results from the 2018 Iowa State Cross Country meet tomorrow afternoon.