Staff writer
Several Hillsboro cross-country runners finished well in their respective races Thursday at Sterling.
Jonathan Hinerman placed 16th of 76 runners finishing the varsity boys’ five kilometer race in 18 minutes, 43 seconds.
“It was good to have Jonathan medal again,” coach Stuart Holmes said. “He finished especially well with a good last 200 meters.”
As the Trojans stride into league, regional, and possibly state meets, Holmes said Hinerman and team would need to focus on all aspects of their running including, a good starting position, maintaining a good cadence throughout the race, and finishing strong.
Abby Driggers won the girls’ junior-varsity race at 24:36 and Lydia Kliewer came in second at 25:33. There were nine total runners in the race.
Caleb Rempel placed 11th of 35 boys’ junior-varsity runners at 22:19. Tucker Moss was 18th at 23:16, Avery Unruh was 27th at 24:38, and Samuel Damon was 28th at 24:43.
Millie Sechrist was seventh of 11 in an eighth-grade two-mile race at 16:47.
Running against 29 other competitors, Caleb Diener won a seventh-grade one-mile race, finishing in 5:40. Noah Bartel was 13th at 6:43, and Aidan Unruh was 23rd at 7:15.
“Caleb also set a new school record for the one-mile race by smashing the old school record of 5:58 previously held by Michael Higby,” Holmes said. “It was great to see Caleb be more aggressive right from the start as he always finishes with an outstanding kick.”
Jessi Dalke placed 11th of 15 seventh-grade girls in a 1-mile race finishing in 7:45. Mercy Damon was 13th at 8:04.
The Trojans run at the Central Kansas League next at 4 p.m. Thursday in Lyons.