By OLIVER GOOD

Staff writer

Hillsboro cross country runners ran exceptional races Thursday at Berean Academy, according to coach Stuart Holmes.

“Overall, it was the team’s best performance of the year,” Holmes said.

Senior Emily Sechrist won a varsity girl 4K run, finishing more than 30 seconds ahead of a second place runner from Hesston, with a time of 16 minutes and 3 seconds.

Senior Karyn Leihy placed 11th, running the course in 18:13, while junior Lydia Kliewer “ran an excellent race” and came in fourth with a time of 20:38 in a girls’ junior varsity run.

For the boys, sophomore Jonathan Hinerman “dug down deep and out-kicked someone in the last 100 meters” to finish in ninth place in a varsity boys race with a time of 18:50.

Sophomore Tristan Donaldson set a new personal record to finish in 22nd place on junior varsity, running his fastest time ever at 22:18, according to Holmes.

“All the runners are improving and competing hard which is a credit to each individual as well as our senior leaders,” Holmes said. “When the seniors are dedicated to their training and have positive attitudes, it influences the younger runners to do the same.”

Hillsboro runs Thursday at Sterling.