First sanctioned for girls in 1966, cross country is special in Iowa, as the season ends with a co-ed state tournament at Kennedy Park in Fort Dodge.
Though many believe it’s is an individual sport, cross country is a team sport where runners compete to earn the individual top spot while helping their team’s overall finish. Fans must pay attention, as even though the top five finishers determine the team’s final score, the runners in the middle of the pack are crucial to determining the final score. This unique setup teaches personal goal setting and life lessons in addition to breeding team camaraderie.
Season Information
Dates & Guidelines
The following dates and guidelines have been approved for the 2024-25 school year.
First practice: Monday, August 11
First competition: Monday, August 25
Playing dates: 10
Scrimmages: 1
State qualifying meet: Class 4A and 3A - Wednesday, October 22; Class 2A and 1A - Thursday, October 23
State meet: Class 3A and 4A - Friday, October 31; Class 1A and 2A - Saturday, November 1 in Fort Dodge
Individual and Team Participation Limitations
All classes will run seven, count five at state qualifying and state meet (may run six and count four during regular season). Junior high and high school students may not run together in the same race. Jewelry is legal.
Academic Eligibility
Academic eligibility resumes at 12:01 a.m. on September 15.
The IGHSAU thanks its official partners for their continued support of the Iowa Girl. Their investments allow the IGHSAU to provide the very best championship experiencer for student-athletes across the state while continuing the vision and mission established by longtime Executive Director E. Wayne Cooley.
