Running with determination

Cross country runners from Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn achieved individual success and the Hawk boys were competitive as a team in two meets last week.

George Vargas finished just out of the Top 10 in the meet at Alta-Aurelia on Sept. 25. The senior placed 11th with a time of 18:22. Other results were Ryan Grotluschen 29th, 20:07; Aiden Bush, 36th, 20:30; Damian Dodge, 38th, 20:37; Blaine Finster 44th, 21:00; and Easton Teal, 60th, 22:46. There were 81 runners.

"Our boys finished sixth out of 13 teams, against some great competition and larger schools," Hawk coach Kirsten Taylor noted.

East Sac County won the meet with 56 points, Sibley-Ocheyedan was second with 87 and Sioux Central was third with 99. Other team scores were Manson Northwest Webster 110, Cherokee 127, H-M-S 147, Alta-Aurelia 176, MMCRU 219, Lawton-Bronson 221, South O'Brien 234, Hinton 242, OABCIG 263 and Newell-Fonda 345.

H-M-S did not have enough girls to record a team score. Individual finishes were Lexi Croatt, 19th, 23:13: Jocelyn Abonce, 40th, 25:47; Gracie Knobloch, 43rd, 26:06; and Kamryn Ebel, 52nd, 28:19. Sixty runners competed in the race.

"Alta-Aurelia was highlighted by both of our senior girls running PR's. I am proud of Lexi and Jocelyn's willingness to battle through each race," Taylor said. "Lexi ran very determined last week."

Girls' team scores were Hinton 48, Cherokee 59, Alta-Aurelia 60, Sioux Central 82, Manson Northwest Webster 122, Lawton-Bronson 133 and OABCIG 191.

• Boys fourth at South O'Brien

H-M-S finished fourth in the boys' team standings during a meet hosted by South O'Brien on Sept. 28.

Sheldon won the title with 44 points, Sibley-Ocheyedan scored 59 and Estherville-Lincoln Central finished with 98. H-M-S scored 119 points, followed by MMCRU 134, Akron-Westfield 146, George-Little Rock/Central Lyon 164, Hinton 166 and South O'Brien 169.

Vargas again led the way for H-M-S, finishing seventh in 18:49. Other results were Grotluschen, 22nd, 20:48; Finster, 26th, 21:01; Dodge, 30th, 21:09; Teal, 54th, 23:01; and Carter Dolphin, 69th, 26:42.

H-M-S did not have a full girls' squad but had individual success against tough competition. Croatt finished 12th, 23:47; Knobloch placed 30th, 26:20; Abonce was 37th, 27:20; and Clara Funk came in 41st, 30:45.

Hinton topped the team standings with 28 points, G-LR/CL was second with 45, West Lyon scored 48 and Westwood finished with 115.

"Both meets proved positive steps as we get closer to finishing up our regular season," Taylor said. "Our team is looking forward to the next few weeks as we only have one meet per week. That helps with both our recovery and training."

H-M-S will compete in the meet hosted by GLR/CL on Oct. 5 at the Otter Valley course near George, and the War Eagle Conference meet on Oct. 12 at Paullina.