After ACGC cross country ended 2016 in phenomenal fashion, they will be starting the 2017 season right where they left off.

Recently the Iowa High School Track Coaches Association released their cross country preseason top 15 rankings for all classes. After frequenting the top 15 list most of last year, both Charger girls and boys squads enter into 2017 in similar fashion as the Lady Chargers currently rest 14th in 1A while the boys enter the season ranked 5th.

Head coach Collin Shawgo brings back four of the state meet runners from the boys squad who placed third overall at the state meet last year. The Charger boys will entering the 2017 campaign as the reigning West Central Activities Conference champions and have a total of 18 runners on the current roster.

As for the Lady Chargers, they come back strong as ever with all of last year’s state meet runners ready to tackle 2017. Leading the charge for ACGC will undoubtedly be sophomore Kate Crawford, who comes back as not only the reigning WCAC individual girls champion but the reigning class 1A girls individual champion as well. Crawford will be one of the 16 runners set to take the stage for the Lady Chargers in 2017.

Both Charger squads will start their 2017 journey with their season and home opener on August 24th as they open up against an 11 team field.