Spencer, Ia (KICD) – Area Class 1A Cross Country Teams competed in Spencer for the State Qualifying Meet on Thursday.

In the Girls race, Alta-Aurelia’s Nora Peterson came away with the win, running a 19:36.95. Peterson had a lot of good things to say about the meet.

North Union’s Alexis Cummins placed 2nd with a time of 20:22.75. Cummins had to push through some fatigue late in the race.

Cummins’ teammate Jacey Welbig took 4th with a time of 20:45.00. Welbig broke down the course layout for KICD.

Alta-Aurelia’s second Individual State Qualifier would be Breyer Anderson who placed 9th with a time of 21:20.84. Anderson said she had to stay mentally focused during the chaos of a State Qualifying Meet.

Woodbine would come away with the win in the Team title with 50 points. Also qualifying for State as a team and taking 2nd was Hinton with 52 points. Alta-Aurelia was 3rd, Emmetsburg 5th, and Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn 7th.

In the Boys Race, Woodbine’s Landon Bendgen was the site Champion with a time of 16:05.87. Bendgen said it was a great day for a race.

Sibley-Ocheyedan’s Ben Byers would place 2nd with a time of 16:40.13. Byers ran a great race despite starting different than usual.

MMCRU’s Kaden Galles is into State with his 4th place finish, ticking a 18:03.97 time. Alta-Aurelia’s Jacob Launderville is also in with a 5th place time of 17:29.56. Launderville ran his fastest race of the year.

North Union’s Gavyn Morphew placed 6th with a time of 17:44.02. Morphew got out quick and hung on.

MMCRU’s second runner into the State Meet is Lucas Braun who placed 8th with a time of 17:55.85. Braun talked about his racing strategy.

Going through the shoot right after Braun was George Vargas of Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn with a time of 17:56.19. Vargas used some familiar opponents to lift him into State.

Woodbine won the team title in the Boys race with 36 points. Sibley-Ocheyedan is on to State as a team with their second-place finish. Generals Coach Ryan Wiersma is proud of the team.

Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn took 4th, Alta-Aurelia 6th, MMCRU 7th, and South O’Brien 10th.