Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties

'They ran their tails off'

H-M-S has individual, team success at state qualifying meet

Individual and team accomplishments added up for Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn cross country runners at the Class 1A state qualifying meet on Oct. 19. In addition to having one runner earn a trip to state, both teams recorded some of the best finishes in recent memory during the meet at Spencer Municipal Golf Course.

George Vargas is H-M-S's first male state qualifier since 2017. The senior ran a personal-best time of 17:56 to finish ninth overall. The Top 10 finishers qualify for state.

"I told George to trust his instincts from the get-go. He embraced this race and ran with a fire in his belly," Ha...