Harlan Community XC Training Hard for Upcoming Season

Harlan Community XC Training Hard for Upcoming Season -

(8-22-25) - Harlan Community Cross-Country Coach Zach Klaassen has his athletes training hard as the start of the season gets closer.

“This week's been a big week for us and it's the last week before we start racing because we get going right away next Tuesday,” Klaassen told KNOD Sports. “Get a lot of miles on them this week and then we'll start dialing it down a little bit.”

The Cyclone girls cross-country team was ranked 11th in the Iowa Association of Track Coaches preseason rankings, with Ashlyn Rau was listed 18th in the individual rankings. With top runner Lindsey Sonderman having graduated, Rau takes over the leadership role for the team.

“She's a tough kid. It was good that freshman year to have Lindsey to learn from and the other girls, as well. Every day she was competing against one of the best in the state. I’ve just kind of brought her along and she kind of understands what it takes to work hard every day and practice. Then, you know, I think this year she's kind of showing some of the younger kids the same thing.”

For the boys, despite smaller numbers, Klaassen feels the duo of Jeffery Gross and Eric Heslink will make even more strides after a successful track & field season in the spring.

“Eric, I think beat Jeffrey every race last year,” said Klaassen. “Eric, he just got edged out. He almost (was an) individual state qualifier; missed out on that by a second. But something clicked with Jeffrey over track season. I think he got healthy. He's having some foot problems and stuff during cross last year. So, I think, he kind of got that stuff ironed out. He seems really healthy now and I think he’s building a little bit off his state qualifying in track.”

Harlan Community’s cross-country season begins Tuesday in Shenandoah.

View past scores by visiting the Iowa High School Athletic Association's website, Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union website,
or Iowa Quik Stats