3. Gable Sieperda, George-Little Rock (Iowa)
Grade: Senior
Breakdown: Throughout most of his career, Sieperda has been extremely consistent race to race. To illustrate, in his first three state XC meets, his places were sixth, sixth, and third, while his times were 16:30, 16:29, and 16:27.
But last spring, something undeniably clicked in for him, and he went on to have an outstanding track season, taking state titles in both the 800m (1:55.12) and 3200m (9:15.30), while being runner-up in the 1600m (season best 4:17.17).
He has carried that torrid momentum into cross country, finishing second to Derick Peters at the Augie Twilight in 15:29, and then running the fastest 5K of anyone in the field this season with 15:08 at the Sibley-Ocheyedan Invitational. Riding this hot streak, Sieperda is bound to have another outstanding race at Griak, and might be the most likely of any runner in the field to upstage Hussein or Peters.