RUNNERS IN REGION MEET

    Britton-Hecla’s young cross country squad wrapped up its season at the Region 1B meet held in Webster last week Wednesday.
    Two freshmen were the only varsity runners this season for Coach Stephanie Symens’ squad.  Joseph O’Brien placed 25th in a 58-runner field in the boys’ division at the regional meet with a 20:0`.22 clocking over the 5,000-meter course.  Livia Knecht was 33rd in the girls varsity race in a 53-runner field with a time of 23:41.41.
    Competing in the junior varsity race were freshman Danny Small with a 20th place finish among 36 runners in 18:00.77 over the 4,000-meter course, and Avery eighth grader Avery Leonard, placing 20th among 31 runners with a time of 21:41.48.  Eighth grader Lillian Boyko did not run in the regional.
    “The region went really well and everyone ran their best time of the season,” said Symens.  “It helps when the weather finally cools down a little bit to help our runners out. Even though we had a young team this year, there were lots of improvements for the future. I have no doubt that we will have future state qualifiers.”
    The top three teams and top 20 varsity runners advance to the state meet in Huron on Saturday.
    Deuel claimed the boys title with 27 points, followed by Milbank with 40, Sissetyon 60, Great Plains Lutheran 72, Florence-Henry 104, Groton Area 106, Webster Area 114, Aberdeen Roncalli 135, Clark-Willow Lake 140, and Tri-State 170.
    Clark-Willow Lake was the girls champion with 23 points, followed by Roncalli with 32, Milbank 49, Groton Area 77, Deuel 95, Redfield 96, Great Plains Lutheran 100, Tri-State 108, and Sisseton 120.  Schools had to have at least four runners to qualify as a team.