Dowling Runners Are Favorites for Fifth-Straight State Title

The girls' cross country program at Dowling Catholic High School in West Des Moines has reigned supreme for half a decade, and the outlook for 2011's state meet looks much the same.

The Dowling runners are once again ranked No. 1 in the state and only graduated one of the seven girls who won last year's fourth consecutive state title.

"The only difference between last year and this year is that Tanelle Berard isn't here," Vaughan said. "Right now, we're lucky enough to have a good and healthy team and we're relatively the same as last year. The atmosphere and everything all feels the same."

Last year's best runner, Tanelle Berard, is running at Northern Colorado. She was just another in a string of great runners who has made the Dowling program one of the best in the nation.

"I think our success is mostly because of those great runners who came through our program and kind of motivated and inspired a whole generation of kids – and that would be Katie and Betsy Flood and Ashlie Decker," said head coach Rev. Jim Kirby.

Katie Flood is running at the University of Washington, her sister, Betsy, is at the University of Iowa, and Decker is competing for the University of Minnesota. 

"The things that those kids were able to do and the culture they built in our team back then has just been something that's become an expectation for our girls when they come out for cross country," Kirby said. "The girls who are here now want to set their own mark and continue that tradition."

One of the runners carrying the torch is sophomore Karissa Schweizer. Last year, as a freshman, she finished fourth at the state meet, and is currently ranked No. 1 in the state.

"Karissa really has a focus that she didn't have last season, and she's a lot stronger then she was a season ago," Kirby said. "She's more motivated this year and she's really matured a lot."

The state meet will be at Kennedy Park in Fort Dodge on Saturday, Oct. 29.