HILLSBORO: Harriers take third at SES
Daniel Yoder wins
SE Saline title
BY RYAN RICHTER
Sports writer
With the MCAA league cross country meet exactly two weeks away at Hesston, the race for the top spot has the potential to get very interesting through the final two weeks of the regular season.
In the Trojans' two league meets at the start of the season, league foes Hesston and Halstead were trying to catch up as Hillsboro sped to a pair of top finishes.
Sept. 24 at Gypsum at the SE of Saline meet, it was the Trojans trying to catch up to their league rivals.
While Halstead and Hesston took first and second, respectively, all 96 of the race's finishers were trying to run down Daniel Yoder.
Halstead's 89 points beat out the Swathers for the top spot by 13 points, while the Trojans finished just six points behind with 108.
"This was a good meet for us," Trojan cross country coach Brian Kennell said. "This was the first time we've run against Halstead and Hesston in a straight varsity race.
"We were disappointed to finish behind them, but we know they are both very good teams."
Daniel has come within two spots of crossing the finish line first, twice this season, always trying to catch his twin Aaron.
But on Tuesday, an off day left Aaron as one of the 96 as his twin claimed his first top finish of the season in a time of 17:46.
Aaron came in four spots behind with 18:05.
Sophomore Kody Borg earned his first varsity medal of the season with a 21st place finish of 19:17.
Also suffering a sub-par day was the 36th place finisher, Karl Magnuson (19:46).
"Aaron and Karl had down days and hoped to finish higher than they had, Kennell said. "They'll be looking to bounce back at Berean."
The Dragons also claimed the top finish in the junior varsity class.
Due to a shortage of JV runners with only four, Hillsboro did not receive a team score.
Sammy Espada paced the JV team, taking sixth in 20:41 for the Trojans' only medal.
Finishing 11th in 20:59, senior Billy Winegarner posted his highest finish ever in his first year of cross country.
"We run against them (Hesston and Halstead) again this season and will be focusing on the league meet," Kennell said. "It's fun having a very competitive league this year.
"The league meet at Hesston should be one of the most exciting meets of the season."
The Trojans are in action today in Elbing at the Berean Academy meet. Races begin at 4 p.m.
Varsity results
1. D. Yoder, 17:46. 5. A. Yoder, 18:05. 21. Borg, 19:17. 36. Magnuson, 19:46. 45. Nick Unruh, 20:11. 55. Michael Bookless, 20:34. 66. Daniel Bookless, 20:57.
Junior varsity
6. Espada, 20:41. 11. Winegarner, 20:59. 24. Robert Jost, 21:48. 46. Michael Fisher, 24:20.
