T-R FILE PHOTO - Marshalltown junior Preston Johnson, right, runs with the lead pack during the Class 4A portion of the Iowa High School State Cross Country Championships on Saturday, Nov. 1, at Lakeside Municipal Golf Course near Fort Dodge. Johnson was one of 30 runners statewide named to the Elite All-State team by the Iowa Association of Track Coaches.

The Iowa Association of Track Coaches names an Elite All-State team at the conclusion of the cross country season, honoring the runners with the 30 best times from the state meet.

Marshalltown junior Preston Johnson certainly qualifies.

Johnson ran the third-fastest time in state meet history en route to a runner-up finish in Class 4A during last weekend’s Iowa High School State Cross Country Championships at Lakeside Municipal Golf Course near Fort Dodge, clocking in with a school-record time of 14 minutes, 56.1 seconds.

Johnson earned Elite All-State honors as announced Friday by the IATC after trailing only Cedar Falls senior Jaden Merrick (14:54.6) in the 4A race. Quentin Nauman, the 3A champion from Western Dubuque, ran 14:48.3 last Friday to claim the fastest time in state meet history.

Grundy Center senior Emerson Vokes claimed his second-straight 2A crown with a 15:42.0 and was a part of the Elite All-State squad as well.

Johnson and Vokes were first-team honorees in their respective classes, while South Tama senior Barrett Jesina was a second-team all-state recipient in 3A. Jesina placed 24th at state with his time of 16:35.9.

Grundy Center junior Grace Storjohann (19:19.9) was a first-team selection in 2A, as was West Marshall senior Addie Thompson. Thompson (19:20.7) led the Trojans to a fourth-place finish in the 2A team standings, sparked along by second-team all-state teammates Kielly Kasal, a freshman, and Dalaney Eldridge, a sophomore. Kasal placed 23rd at state in 20:23.5 while Eldridge was 27th in 20:25.9.