Two sets of sisters, from two sister cities, are running toward a third straight Class 2A state championship for Union High School.

Senior Erin Sears and junior Paige Sears are from Dysart, while junior Ashley Frush and sophomore Brittany Frush are from La Porte City. Together with fellow returning starters Emily Snyder, Laura Krug and Cerena Merchant, they will be overwhelming favorites to continue the Knights' run of cross country dominance.

"With all seven returning, we'll have a big target on our back and very high expectations to go out there and do it again," Erin Sears said. "But you can never predict the future. All you can do is go out there and work hard."

Hard work and a well-developed team concept have helped to build the Knights' success.

"I feel our team has great chemistry," Sears said. "Coach (Andy) McQuillen always preached team unity a lot when I first came up, but I think the girls just realized as a team that that's what we needed to do. We needed to be together to be a successful team."

Team unity does not override the competitive nature of distance runners, though, especially among sisters.

"It always burns me and Ashley if our two younger sisters are beating us in practice," Sears said.

With 14 girls out this year, McQuillen is working with the largest group of runners he's ever had.

"With the boys' team, we've got 33 total runners," McQuillen said. "For a Class 2A school, that's pretty remarkable."

The Union girls won state by a whopping 99-point margin last year, but No. 2 Hudson would like nothing more than to close that gap, if not eliminate it entirely.

"Our girls have a good rivalry with the girls from Union," said Hudson coach Sherry Selenke. "They're all friends, but when it comes down to meet time they want to beat them."

Junior Holly Halstead, coming off an eighth-place finish at state last year, but both Claire Hawkins and Jenna Brandhorst should improve on the times they ran as freshmen last year.

Sumner-Fredericksburg's Jodi Miller will be looking to make a move in the Class 2A individual rankings, after finishing fourth in the state as a sophomore last year.

The graduation of Class 1A state champion Sara Stoakes of North Tama leaves an opening for Wapsie Valley senior Katy Moen, who finished third in 2008.

The Decorah boys' team, which placed fourth in Class 3A last year, lost three of its top four runners to graduation, but seniors Bryan Minear, Sam Zook and Ryan Hemesath will be back to lead the perennially-strong Viking squad.

South Winneshiek of Calmar edged Iowa Mennonite for the Class 1A boys' title last year, and the Warriors' top two, Brett Losen and John Ameling, will both be back for their senior season.

Sophomore Sloan Beninga, who led Dike-New Hartford to 14th place in the boys' Class 2A standings last year, will look to continue his success as the Wolverines drop down a class to 1A this year.

"Moving down to 1A may or may not be a good thing, because there are so many good 1A teams in this area," said D-NH coach Barry Cuvelier. "It seems like year in and year out there is a team or two from our conference competing for a state championship."

Area capsules

DENVER-TRIPOLI TITANS

HEAD COACH - Sandy Sabelka

Schedule

Sept. 1 - at Oelwein

Sept. 8 - at Waverly-Shell Rock

Sept. 12 - at North Fayette (West Union)

Sept. 15 - at Starmont (Arlington)

Sept. 17 - at Rich Engel Classic (Birdsall Park, Cedar Falls)

Sept. 24 - at Grundy Center

Sept. 29 - at Jesup

Oct. 6 - at Dike-New Hartford

Oct. 13 - at Union (LaPorte City)

Oct. 17 - NICL conference meet at Reinbeck

DIKE-NEW HARTFORD WOLVERINESS

HEAD COACH - Barry Cuvelier

RETURNING BOYS' LETTERWINNERS (18) - Damian Garcia, Chris Grundmeyer, Klayton Kruger, Bryson Zabel, Kyle Camarata, Daniel Nielsen, Kyle Patterson, Gabe Smith, Al Beninga, Sloan Beninga, Ian Darland, Wyatt Eden, Tanner Ragsdale, Tom Koop, Forrest Perkins, Ethan Philo, Craig Schott, Nathan Zabel.

RETURNING GIRLS' LETTERWINNERS (9) - Stephanie Luhring, Kaity Sharp, Kristi Schott, Amanda Latusek, Elli Parker, Brandy Schipper, Megan Weichers, Nicole Hensley, Lauren Sharp.

Schedule

Aug. 27 - at Marshalltown

Sept. 3 - at Pine Lake Invitational (Eldora)

Sept. 8 - at Waverly-Shell Rock

Sept. 17 - at Rich Engel Classic (Birdsall Park, Cedar Falls)

Sept. 24 - at Grundy Center

Sept. 29 - at Jesup

Oct. 6 - Wolverine Invitational (Fox Rodge golf course)

Oct. 13 - at Union (Hickory Hills)

Oct. 17 - at NICL meet, Reinbeck

GLADBROOK-REINBECK REBELS

HEAD COACH - Cathy Storjohann

Schedule

Sept. 8 - at Grinnell

Sept. 12 - at Benton (Van Horne)

Sept. 19 - at BCLUW (Union)

Sept. 21 - at BGM (Brooklyn)

Sept. 24 - at Grundy Center

Sept. 29 - at Jesup

Oct. 3 - at South Hardin (Eldora, Pine Lake)

Oct. 6 - at Dike-New Hartford

Oct. 13 - at Union (LaPorte City)

Oct. 17 - NICL meet at Reinbeck

GRUNDY CENTER SPARTANS

HEAD COACH - Sam Iverson

Schedule

Sept. 3 - at South Hardin (Eldora)

Sept. 8 - at Waverly-Shell Rock

Sept. 10 - at Marshalltown

Sept. 14 - at Ballard

Sept. 24 - Spartan Invitational at Grundy Center

Sept. 29 - at Jesup

Oct. 7 - at Dike-New Hartford

Oct. 13 - at Union (LaPorte City)

Oct. 17 - NICL conference meet at Reinbeck

HAMPTON-DUMONT BULLDOGS

HEAD COACH - Steve Huling

Schedule

Sept. 1 - at Webster City

Sept. 8 - at Belmond-Klemme

Sept. 17 - at Clear Lake

Sept. 21 - at Humboldt

Oct. 1 - Bulldog Invitatinal (Hampton)

Oct. 6 - at Dick Bell Invitational, Eagle Grove

Oct. 13 -North Central concference meet at Algona

HUDSON PIRATES

HEAD COACH - Sherry Selenke

RETURNING BOYS' LETTERWINNERS (16) - Spencer SImpson, Noah Adams,. Dallas Evers, Forrest Sassaman, Shelby Seekins, Matt Finn, Alex Fernau, Ross Droppert, Cory Schmitt, Austin Wrage, Jordan Patterson, Jacob Patterson, Nicholas Wrage, David Wrage, Shay Ingles, Skyler Wendling, Michael Grams.

RETURNING GIRLS' LETTERWINNERS (17) - Lindsay Canfield, Elise Huber, Hillary Rickert, Justi Uden, Hannah Garvey, Holly Halstead, Katey Johnson, Taylor Wheeler, Jessica Wetherell, Adrian Thompson, Mallory Kenninger, Jenna Brandhorst, Claire Hawkins, Hope Petry, Sidney Kenninger, Megan Jo Schilling.

Schedule

Sept. 3 - at South Hardin (Eldora)

Sept 8 - at Waverly-Shell Rock

Sept. 15 - at Starmont (Arlington)

Sept. 19 - at BCLUW (Union)

Sept. 22 - at Center Point-Urbana

Sept. 24 - at Grundy Center

Sept. 29 - at Jesup

Oct. 6 - at Dike-New Hartford

Oct. 13 - at Union (Hickory Hills)

Oct. 17 - at NICL meet, Reinbeck

INDEPENDENCE MUSTANGS

HEAD COACH - Sarah Crawford

Schedule

Sept. 1 - at Oelwein Invitational

Sept. 12 - at Benton (Van Horne)

Sept. 15 - at Starmont (Arlington)

Sept. 22 - at Vinton-Shellsburg

Sept. 26 - Independence Invitational

Oct. 1 - at Western Dubuque (Epworth)

Oct. 6 - at West Delaware (Manchester)

Oct. 10 - at North Linn (Troy Mills)

Oct. 13 -at Union (LaPorte City)

Oct. 15 - WaMaC conference meet at Anamosa

NASHUA-PLAINFIELD HUSKIES

HEAD COACH - Mark Wilson

Schedule

Sept. 3 - at Charles City

Sept. 8 - at Waverly-Shell Rock

Sept. 15 - at Osage

Sept. 21 - at West Fork (Rockwell)

Sept. 29 - Nashua-Plainfield Invitational at Nashua Town & Country Club

Oct. 8 -at New Hampton

Oct. 15 - Corn Bowl conference meet at Rockwell

NEW HAMPTON CHICKASAWS

HEAD COACH - Gene Morgan

Schedule

Sept. 1 - at Mason City Newman

Sept. 8 -at Waverly-Shell Rock

Sept. 12 - at North Fayette (West Union)

Sept. 17 - at Rich Engel Classic (Birdsall Park, Cedar Falls)

Sept. 22 - at Waukon

Sept. 24 - at Mason City

Sept. 29 - at Jesup

Oct. 3 - at South Hardin (Eldora)

Oct. 8 -New Hampton Invitational

Oct. 13 - Northeast Iowa conference meet at Oelwein

Oct. 15 - at Oelwein

NORTH BUTLER BEARCATS

HEAD COACH - Kirk Clark

Schedule

Sept. 1 - at Mason City Newman

Sept. 3 - at Charles City

Sept. 8 - at Waverly-Shell Rock

Sept. 10 - at Osage

Sept. 19 - at Union (Hickory Hills)

Sept. 21 - at West Fork (Rockwell)

Sept. 24 - at Central Springs (Manly)

Sept. 29 - at Nashua-Plainfield

Oct. 1 - at Hampton-Dumont

Oct. 15 - Corn Bowl conference meet at Rockwell

TURKEY VALLEY TROJANS

HEAD COACH - Timothy Kruckman

RETURNING BOYS' LETTERWINNERS (2) - Adam Best, Alex Meirick.

RETURNING GIRLS' LETTERWINNERS (2) - Katherine Kuennen, Jenny Kuennen.

Schedule

Sept. 3 - at Tri-City

Sept. 8 - at Clayton Ridge (Guttenberg)

Sept. 12 - at North Fayette (West Union)

Sept. 17 - at Central (Elkader)

Sept. 22 - at Waukon

Oct. 3 - at Crestwood (Cresco)

Oct. 6 - at South Winneshiek (Calmar)

Oct. 8 -at Ionia

Oct 12 - at Norht Linn (Troy Mills)

Oct. 15 -Upper Iowa conference meet at Elgin

UNION KNIGHTS

HEAD COACH - Andy McQuillen

RETURNING BOYS' LETTERWINNERS (19) - Greg Braasch, Winston Downing, Sam Graf, Benjamin Purdy, Andrew Stephenson, Casey Ewald, Richard Leipold, Jordan Olson, Garrett Prestemon, Jake Reiter, Robert Swestka, Joey Ternus, Seth Woodson, Evan Dalluge, Keith Weich, Trent Heth, Robert Leipold, Isaac Merchant, Matt Miller.

RETURNING GIRLS' LETTERWINNERS (15) - Christina Lyakhova, Lindsey Petersen, Erin Sears, Emily Snyder, Ashley Frush, Tiffany Kuhn, Cerena Merchant, Katey Samuelson, Paige Sears, Kelsey Ewald, Brittany Frush, Amanda Groleau, Laura Krug, Hannah Wilson, Ivy Werner.

Schedule

Sept. 1 - at Oelwein

Sept. 8 - at Grinnell

Sept. 15 - at Starmont (Arlington)

Sept. 22 - at Center Point-Urbana

Sept. 24 - at Grundy Center

Sept. 29 - at Jesup

Oct. 6 - at Dike-New Hartford

Oct. 13 - Union Invitational at Hickory Hills

Oct. 17 - NICL conference meet at Reinbeck

WAVERLY-SHELL ROCK GO-HAWKS

HEAD COACH - Kevin Kueker

RETURNING BOYS' LETTERWINNERS (8) - Alex Rerking, Chris Janssen, Dan Rediske, James Vannordstrand, Blake Wilson, Bryce Wilson, Alex Peschang, Daniel Huff.

Schedule

Sept. 1 - at Oelwein (Hickory Grove)

Sept. 8 - Waverly-Shell Rock Invitational

Sept. 17 - at Rich Engel Classic (Birdsall Park, Cedar Falls)

Sept. 24 - at Mason City (NIACC)

Sept. 26 - at University of Minnesota meet, Minneapolis

Sept. 29 - at Nashua-Plainfield

Oct. 6 - at West Delaware

Oct. 13 - Northeast Iowa conference meet a Hickory Grove, Oelwein

WAPSIE VALLEY WARRIORS

HEAD COACH - Troy Matthaidess

Schedule

Sept. 1 - at Oelwein

Sept. 8 - at Weaverly-Shell Rock

Sept. 12 - at North Fayette (West Union)

Sept. 15 - at Starmont (Arlington)

Sept. 24 - at Sumner-Fredericksburg

Sept. 26 - at Independence

Sept. 29 - at Jesup

Oct. 6 - at Dike-New Hartford

Oct. 10 - at North Linn (Troy Mills)

Oct. 17 - at NICL conference meet, Reinbeck