Introducing the Register's All-Iowa boys' cross country team

The Des Moines Register's All Iowa boys' cross country team has been announced.

Five runners make up the Register's Elite team. All four state champions made the squad: Class 4A's Tim Sindt of Ankeny, 3A's Cody Mertens of Mount Pleasant, 2A's Reece Smith of Garner-Hayfield/Ventura and 1A's Sean McDermott of Madrid. They're joined by 4A runner-up Jack Pendergast of Cedar Rapids Prairie.

Sindt, a two-time state champion, was the only repeat Elite selection.

Three athletes are finalists for the Register's boys' cross country runner of the year: Sindt, McDermott and Smith.

There are 20 runners on the Register's class-by-class teams.

The coach of the year is Madrid's Kelley Grothus.

The athletes will be honored at the All Iowa Sports Awards in June.

► More All Iowa cross country coverage from the Register

• Top boys cross country coach honor goes to Madrid's Grothus
• Introducing the Register's All-Iowa girls' cross country team
• Southeast Polk's Willeford named the state's top girls' cross country coach

Elite team

Tim Sindt

Senior | Ankeny

Sindt won his second consecutive Class 4A state championship with a race of 15 minutes, 36 seconds. Repeat Elite selection and ranked No. 1 all season by the state’s coaches. An Iowa State recruit, Sindt was one of the state’s top distance runners during last spring’s track season.

Jack Pendergast

Junior | C.R. Prairie

The Class 4A state runner-up, Pendergast finished the championship race in 15:41.7. Ranked second in Class 4A by the state’s coaches. A state track meet and Drake Relays distance qualifier. Won a state qualifying meet in 16 minutes flat.

Cody Mertens

Senior | Mount Pleasant

Mertens saved his best race this season for when it counted most, winning the Class 3A state championship. He ran 16:03.1 in that race. He placed eighth individually as a junior.

Sean McDermott

Senior | Madrid

McDermott ran a clutch race at the finish line, earning the Class 1A state title by just over 3 seconds. His effort helped lead Madrid to the team championship. McDermott was ranked No. 1 by the state's coaches and was the school's second individual state cross country champion and the first since 1965.

Reece Smith

Senior | Garner-Hayfield/Ventura

Smith won the Class 2A state meet in 16:00.7, more than 21 seconds ahead of the second-place finisher. That was the largest victory margin of any state winner this season. He was the state runner-up the last two seasons and also was a member of the state team champs as a freshman.

Class-by-class teams

Class 4A

Kolby Greiner, sr., Iowa City West

Sam Hall, jr., W.D.M. Dowling Catholic

David Holesinger, sr., Dubuque Hempstead

Jack Pendergast, jr., C.R. Prairie

Tim Sindt, sr., Ankeny

Class 3A

Cody Mertens, sr., Mount Pleasant

Nate Mueller, soph., ADM (Adel)

Quinton Orr, soph., Humboldt

Luke Post, soph., Center Point-Urbana

Rees Tyler, jr., Gilbert

Class 2A

Joe Anderson, sr., George-Little Rock/Central Lyon

Eric Heibult, sr., Sheldon

Jerry Jorgenson, sr., Treynor

Caleb Shumaker, soph., Tipton

Reece Smith, sr., Garner-Hayfield/Ventura

Class 1A

Joshua Baudler, jr., Nodaway Valley (Greenfield)

Louden Foster, jr., West Central Valley (Stuart)

Sean McDermott, sr., Madrid

Noah Nelsen, sr., ACGC (Guthrie Center)

Will Roder, jr., LeMars Gehlen

Runner of the Year finalists

Tim Sindt

Ankeny | Senior

Sindt finished his career with a second state championship. He became the second two-time winner from Ankeny — the first was in 1962-63. He ran a time of 15:36.0, which was the fastest clocking of any runner this season. Sindt is a two-time Des Moines Register Elite All-Iowa selection and plans to attend Iowa State. He was top-ranked in Class 4A by the state’s coaches the entire season. The last 4A runner to win back-to-back championships was in 2005-06.

Sean McDermott

Madrid | Senior

McDermott had a breakthrough season for himself and his school. He became Madrid's second overall state cross country winner and the first since 1965. He won the Class 1A championship at Fort Dodge's Kennedy Park by running a time of 16:16.4. His victory margin was about 3 seconds. His performance led Madrid to a state team championship. The school last won that honor in 1965, as well. McDermott was ranked No. 1 by the state's coaches.

Reece Smith

Garner-Hayfield/Ventura | Senior

Smith capped his outstanding four-year career with the Class 2A state individual title. He finished second as a junior and sophomore. As a freshman, he was part of a team championship squad. He took individual honors this season by running 16:00.7, more than 21 seconds ahead of the second-place finisher. That was the largest victory margin of any state winner this season.