FORT DODGE — Bill Schwarz was far too elated for what-ifs.

Cedar Rapids Prairie capped a late-season surge with a runner-up finish in the Class 4A boys’ race at the state cross country meet Saturday at Lakeside Golf Course.

Burlington edged the Hawks, 106-109, for the title.

“We were hoping for a top-four finish,” Schwarz said. “I don’t think I have a what-could-have-been in me.”

The Hawks were hampered by injuries for most of the season, but entered the stretch run at full strength. They beat then-No. 1 Cedar Falls at a district meet last week at Marshalltown, then followed it up with another stellar effort Saturday.

“We got healthy at the right time,” said Matt Stocker, who led the team with a 13th-place finish. “Everybody was at peak performance today.”

Burlington’s Marshall Moyer was the individual champion, finishing in 15:48.

Prairie returns its top six runners for 2010.

“This gives us some incentive for next year,” Schwarz said.

West Des Moines Dowling rode a 1-2 finish by Katie Flood and Ashlie Decker to its third consecutive 4A girls’ title. The Maroons scored 57 points, Iowa City High 65.

Flood won her third title — she won in 2006 and 2007 before Decker dethroned her last year.

Brooklynn Kascel of Linn-Mar was fifth. A sophomore, Kascel did not run last year.

“I’m glad I came out,” she said. “I was afraid at first, but I’m glad I did it.”

Despite her inexperience, Kascel knew better than to attempt to run with Flood and Decker, who finished in 13:50 and 13:53, respectively.

Kascel was clocked in 14:45.

“I wanted to run my race and push at the end,” she said.

City High’s Rebecca Rethwisch and Erin Danielson were sixth and seventh.

“It would have been nice to win a state championship, but Dowling is just a really good team,” Rethwisch said. “We gave it everything we had, did everything we could do.”

Scott Mittman of City High was the fastest area boy, placing seventh.