The cross country team performed well at regionals October 28.

The boys and girls teams both almost qualified for state. The teams needed to place in the top seven in order to qualify for state. The girls placed ninth and were only eight points away from qualifying. The boys came in eighth place.

Athletic Director Mylo Miller said, “It was disappointing because they were so close to qualifying, but we are also very proud for the three individuals that made it.”

Individuals Junior Daniel Heckman, senior Allegra Knight and sophomore Katelynn McLaughlin all qualified for state November 1.

Cross country coach Steven Stefanick said, “They did what they could, but they did not accomplish what they wanted to.”

Heckman placed 27th out of 110 athletes. He ran the 3.2 mile race with a time of 17:35. This was Heckman’s first year to run cross country and he made extreme improvements. He began the season running a 5k in 19 minutes and got down his time to 17:01.

Knight competed in the 2 mile run with a time of 13:17. She placed 32nd out of 109 athletes after coming back from a foot injury that set back her training for a month. This was Knight’s last high school cross country race and she looks forward to competing at a collegiate level next year.

“Allegra was hurt this year, so she was happy with the result that she received,” Stefanick said.

McLaughlin also competed in the 2 mile run with a time of 14:03, which earned her 74th place out of 109 athletes. This was her first time to compete at the cross country championship, marking a big improvement from her. McLaughlin improved her time by two minutes over the season.

“For Katelynn and Daniel it was their first time to go to state,” Stefanick said, “Both were happy with their result, but next year they will have the experience under their belts.”

The cross country team is already planning for next season.

“I think that the team will keep improving,” Miller said. “It will be tough losing Allegra but Katelynn has begun to fill in for her.”

Stefanick has high standards for next year’s team.

“The girls are losing valuable seniors but I think that the growth of the program has continually grown and there are always hidden talents,” Stefanick said.