Hillsboro harriers win 3A regional meet
Boys take first at regionals
Staff writer
Hillsboro High School boys' cross country team continues to prove they can run with the best of them. Coach Stuart Holmes' predictions are coming true so far and he hopes the team's winning streak will continue into state competition.
Hillsboro won first place at the 3A regional meet held Saturday at Halstead. Hillsboro's team scored 55 points followed by second place Southeast of Saline with 75 and third place Hesston with 95.
The top three teams qualified for state competition to be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the golf course in Wamego.
"All the guys gave a good effort," Holmes said. "It was a very solid team victory."
Holmes attributed the depth of the team as the key to the regional championship with their five runners placing in the top 20.
Holmes explained why runners had two placings. The overall placing was an individual score. Teams not having five members, a full squad, were not counted in the team placing scores.
Senior Kody Borg led the Trojans and placed sixth overall and won fifth team place with a time of 17:44.
Sean Leihy placed 10th overall and won seventh team place with a time of 18:08.
"Kody and Sean both ran great races," Holmes said. "They medaled which would have qualified them for state even if the team had not qualified."
Cody McMillen placed 15th overall and won 12th team place with a tie of 18:33.
"Cody McMillen continues to be one of the top freshman runners in the area and placed very well at 15th place overall," Holmes said.
Westie Magnuson placed 17th overall and won 14th team place with a time of 18:36.
Nate Holmes placed 20th overall and won 17th team place with a time of 18:40.
Daniel Bookless placed 36th overall and won 31st team place with a time of 19:27.
Robert Jost placed 60th overall and won 52nd team place with a time of 21:03.
"They should feel good about the way they are competing and improving as a team," Holmes said. "You could tell it meant a lot to the runners to be regional champions."
"However, you could also see a determination in their faces to do well at state," he said. "They enjoyed the moment but are really focused on running well at state."
"Hopefully, all the guys will run outstanding races at state and we can place in the top five," Holmes added.
In the girls' division, Hillsboro placed eighth with a total of 193 points. No one qualified for state.
"All the girls ran well," Holmes said. "They should feel good about the tremendous improvement they've made this year."
Hannah Marsh led the Trojans placing 31st overall and won 25th team place with a time of 14:30.
"Hannah was running especially well and had her best time of the year," Holmes said.
Elissa Richert placed 45th overall and won 39th team place with a time of 15:43.
"Elissa was also on pace, based on her mile split, to have her best time of the year, but sprained an ankle which slowed her down," Holmes said.
Jacque Fisher placed 44th overall and won 38th team place with a time of 15:41.
Greta Kliewer placed 47th overall and won 41st team place with a time of 15:50.
Megan Peachey placed 58th overall and won 50th team place with a time of 16:41.
"With four of our six girls running cross country for the first time this year, we hope to be even more competitive next year now that have more experience," Holmes added.
