XC runner is one of H-M-S's best

Running a 5K race is not for everyone, but for Madison Otto it has been an opportunity for success.

The Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn cross country runner placed fifth at the War Eagle Conference meet on Oct. 11. It was the fourth time she placed in the Top 15 of the varsity runners in that meet.

Otto acknowledges it feels "really good" to be all-conference again.

"The last 400 I kicked it in," she said. "I thought I was seventh but when I finished I was fifth."

According to Hawk coach Kyle Borchers, being an all-conference runner every year isn't easy. Otto is just the third girl at H-M-S to finish in the Top 15 all four years. The others are Katie Knoblock (2008-11) and Kourtney Schnurr (2015-18).

Otto placed 10th as a freshman to earn all-WEC honors. After an eighth-place finish as a sophomore she finished fifth in 2020 and 2021.

Facing state-rated competition during most of H-M-S's meets this fall helped Otto prepare for competition at the conference meet.

"They were Class 2A or 3A runners. It motivated me to push myself," she said.

That paid off as Otto was the only Class 1A runner to finish in the Top 5 at the conference meet.

Something different this year was the venue. Rather than competing on a golf course, conference athletes ran in the prairie area at Dordt University.

"No one had run on there," Otto said. "It's a college course so we were the first high school teams to run on it."

Her cross country career began when she was in eighth grade. She was on the volleyball team before deciding in midseason to switch sports.

"I was just horrible at volleyball," she admitted.

Early success provided Otto with the confidence to succeed in the sport. Now one major accomplishment remains for her to achieve. Runners who finish 1-10 at the 1A state qualifying meet on Oct. 21 will advance to state, and Otto was quick to state her goal for that race.

"Top 10 for sure."