Sam Chaney felt some discomfort in his right foot when he won his Iowa Class 2A district cross country race last week.

The foot had been bothering the Columbus senior for a while but seemed to be on the mend.

But as runners from across Iowa line up at Lakeside Golf Course today for the state meet in Fort Dodge, Chaney won't be among them.

Last Tuesday, Chaney called coach Mike Jay and told him the pain had returned and was intensifying.

A doctor visit revealed a clean break in Chaney's middle toe. He'd won the district race - his 10th victory of the season - on a broken foot, and Chaney wanted to push through at state.

But he also wants to run in college - likely for Iowa - and any further stress on the foot could more damage.

"It just breaks my heart," Jay said. "I don't know how anybody was going to beat him. He was on a mission, both mentally and physically."

Chaney's chance at a state title was taken away last fall when he collapsed in the final mile, unable to complete the race because of a lack of nutrition.

This season he was unbeaten, with wins over Burlington's Marshall Moyer and J.T. McCarthy.

Chaney is scheduled to have a screw inserted in his foot next week and expects to be back for track season.

State slate

What: Iowa state cross country meet

When: Today, 11 a.m.

Where: Lakeside Golf Course, Fort Dodge

Distance: 5K (boys), 4K (girls)

Girls local scene

Class 4A (11 a.m.) - Local teams: Bettendorf, Pleasant Valley.

Class 3A (noon) - Local teams: Davenport Assumption.

Class 2A (1 p.m.) - Local teams: Wilton. Local individuals: Morgan Casey, Northeast; Emily Franks, Northeast; Lorena Temple, Camanche.

Class 1A (2 p.m.) - Local teams: Clinton Prince of Peace, Bellevue Marquette.

Boys local scene

Class 4A (11:30 a.m.) - Local teams: Bettendorf, Pleasant Valley.

Class 3A (12:30 p.m.) - Local team: Central DeWitt.

Class 2A (1:30 p.m.) - Local team: Wilton. Local individuals: Codie Adams, Camanche; Jake Keller, Columbus; Deane Wichelt, Durant-Bennett.

Class 1A (2:30 p.m.) - Local teams: Tipton, Wapello.