Kaci Jurgensmeier

Breathing heavy and hearts racing, girls cross country team dashed to the finish line on the hardest course of the season earning 15th place at state on October 25. Last year the girls placed fifth in regionals and also qualified for state where they placed 20th. Improvement links the team together as the scrappy girls team placed higher in both regionals and state. Regionals this year took place at Kersey, Colorado where the girls team whisked past the competition trading in their fifth place title for their third place victory. After stealing third place at regionals, the team qualified for state in Colorado Springs where the Reds faced the hardest course of the season. Sophomore Mckenzie Reiher represented Eaton, placing first out of all the Eaton girls said, “At state, I was focused on my goals, but I also let myself have fun and make memories with my team.” On a course consisting of crossing creeks and hiking mountains, the girls placed 15th, improving from 20th place last year. Junior Karalee Kothe said, “ State was so crazy because the course is harder than anything else we run in all year.” The girls joked that the course felt more like an equestrian trial than a cross country race. Kothe said, “I felt like a majestic horse as I scurried through the creek toward the hilltop where victory was waiting for me on the other side.” Kothe has been running cross country for three years and plans to come back next year. Junior Mary Martin said, “ Hiking shoes would have been helpful when running on that mountain, but we made the best of what we had.” The course was 3.1 miles. Times for the girls during the 3.1 mile run were McKenzie Reiher (17) (23:37.7) , Tayler Hays (17) (24:36.6), Karalee Kothe (16) (24:38.4), Abby Schott (17) (24:56.3), Leah Garcia (17) (26:44.5), Mary Martin (16) (28:29.4), and Kaitlin Carey (16) (26:44.5). The Reds hope to improve even more for next fall.