A career accomplishment was achieved and several goals were realized by Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn runners during the 2021 War Eagle Conference cross country meet. Races were run on a course through the prairie area of the Dordt University campus in Sioux Center on Oct. 11.

The highlight for H-M-S was the fifth-place finish by senior Madison Otto, who ran a time of 22:11. She has finished in the Top 15 at the conference meet all four years of her high school career.

"[Her time] was a season-best, she was all-conference and she placed Top 5. Those were goals we had set that day. She ran fantastic," said Hawk coach Kyle Borchers.

Freshman Gracie Knobloch and junior Juliana Pasillas finished 31st and 32nd among the varsity runners. Knobloch's time was 26:46 and Pasillas' was 26:52.

"All three ran season-bests. I was impressed with how all three ran," Borchers noted.

H-M-S did not have a complete team as Kamryn Ebel and Ashleigh Vermeer were unable to compete due to illness.

Unity Christian won the WEC girls' title with 20 points. Hinton was second with 53 followed by West Sioux 84, Gehlen Catholic 104 and South O'Brien 107.

Sophomore George Vargas recorded the best time for the H-M-S boys (20:21) and finished 18th. Also competing were freshman Aiden Bush, 23rd, 20:44; junior Bryce Dodge, 25th, 20:59; senior Aiden Jensen, 28th, 21:32; freshmen Blaine Finster, 35th, 22:47; Damian Dodge, 36th, 23:31; and Ryan Grotluschen, 47th, 27:42. Sophomore Gavin Faulkner ran JV, placing 17th in a time of 27:21.

"They were all ready to go for the meet. As a team, we ran well," Borchers noted.

H-M-S finished fifth out of seven schools with full teams. H-M-S and Trinity Christian each scored 129 points, but the Hawks officially finished one place higher due to a smaller spread of times for the Top 5 runners.

"Our goal was to be in the Top 5. Placing fifth put us within that goal," Borchers said.

Unity Christian completed the title sweep with 27 points while MMCRU was second with 53. Gehlen Catholic 81, Hinton 108, and South O'Brien 182 rounded out the teams.

The Dordt Prairie location was an interesting change from the regular golf course setting.

"It was a new experience for everybody there," Borchers said. "Personally, I loved the course. Anytime we can get off a golf course and run on a cross country area is great. The kids responded well to it."

• State qualifying meet at Holstein

The Class 1A state qualifying meet will be held Thursday, Oct. 21, at Holstein. The girls' race begins at 4 p.m. with the boys to follow. The Top 2 teams and Top 10 individuals will qualify to compete in the state meet on Oct. 30 at Fort Dodge.

The Hawks have definite individual and team goals entering the qualifying meet.

MIKE PETERSEN/SENTINEL-NEWS

H-M-S runners Bryce Dodge, Aiden Jensen and Aiden Bush surround a Unity Christian runner during the War Eagle Conference meet.

"For Madi, finish in the Top 10. It's the only thing she hasn't done in her career but she would like to do it," Borchers said.

He would like to see a complete girls' squad so they can score as a team, and for Vargas and Dodge to run sub-20 minute times. Improved team scores are also a high priority.

"Last year both teams finished last. That's not happening this year," Borchers remarked. "We want to score as high as we can to show we have improved so much this year."