Five things to look for at this week's WDA Cross Country Championships

BISMARCK – The postseason begins for WDA runners on Saturday, Oct. 10 with the conference championship at McDowell Dam Recreation Area. Here are five things to look for.

1. Ruby Ihmels Targets the Three-Peat Century standout Ruby Ihmels enters Saturday as the unquestioned headliner. The two-time defending champion sits at No. 1 in the Class A individual rankings and looks to become a three-time WDA individual champion. While Ihmels commands the front, the girls field features elite depth, with Mandan’s Hayva Weisbeck (No. 2), Century’s Audrey Echelbarger (No. 3) and Summer Olson (No. 4), Devils Lake’s Brooklyn Johnson (No. 5), Williston’s Cambree Moss (No. 6), Century’s Julia Simmers (No. 7), and Minot High’s Kaylee Jackson (No. 10) giving the WDA seven of the state’s top 10 runners.

2. A Wide-Open Battle for a New Boys Individual Champion With no returning champion in the boys field, a brand-new individual titlist will be crowned Saturday. Seven of the state’s top 10 runners in the Class A poll hail from the WDA, setting up a competitive lead pack. Williston’s Travis Frise (No. 2) and Watford City’s Dehico Bocanegra Tovar (No. 4) lead the charge, chased by Century’s trio of Bracston Kaufman (No. 5), Hudson Bullinger (No. 9), and Hayden Anderson (No. 10), along with Williston’s Tyler Asprey (No. 6) and Mandan’s Yates White Buffalo (No. 8).

3. Century Eyes the Sweep as Defending Champions Push Back Century enters as the favorite in both team divisions, holding the No. 1 ranking in the Class A boys and girls polls. The Patriots look to defend their girls team title against tough challenges from No. 2 Williston, No. 3 Mandan, and No. 5 Bismarck High. On the boys side, defending champion Bismarck High (No. 5) will fight to retain its crown, facing off against top-ranked Century, No. 3 Williston, and No. 4 Mandan in a race where four of the state's top five teams clash head-to-head.

4. The Race for All-WDA Honors Beyond the team plaques and individual podium spots, the top 20 finishers in both the varsity boys and girls races earn All-WDA honors. Given the sheer density of state-ranked runners across the conference, securing a top-20 patch will demand peak mid-season execution and smart pack running.

5. Return to McDowell Dam and the Road to State The championship meet heads back to the field terrain of the McDowell Dam Recreation Area east of Bismarck. With the postseason officially underway, Saturday serves as the key regional springboard toward the Class A State Meet, scheduled for Oct. 24 at Parkhurst Recreation Area near Jamestown.

Photo: Loralyn Joyce