As a freshman, Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn cross country runner George Vargas came in 99th at the state qualifying meet. It's a sure bet he won't recall that day nearly as much as he will remember his performance at the 2023 qualifying meet on Oct. 19.

After running just out of the Top 10 for most of the 5K race, Vargas passed two competitors in the final 400 meters to surge to a ninth-place finish. That result qualifies him to compete at the state meet for the first time.

Vargas ran a personal record time of 17:56, which is the first sub-18 minute time of his career.

Although the final result was...