With only one meet left in the season, both the boys and girls cross country members are working hard to qualify for state. Evan Gesick (21) leads the boys team with a time of
17:53 as a freshman, while Mckenna Cyphers (18) leads the girls team with a 21:05. Even though the girls team graduated four top seniors of last year Emma Willadsen (17), Mckenzie Reiher (17), Abby Schott (17), and Tayler Hays (17), the lowerclassmen runners had no problem filling their shoes.

Running their best times, Eaton girls and boys are aiming for state, and although the girls, once again anticipate running their way to state. The boys will need to run consistently fast times to qualify. Head coach, Jessica Ruff said, “I’m really impressed with our season. I have seen a new level of leadership that has been outstanding and that I’m very proud of. I
think that has pushed the team a lot. I know we thought it might be a rebuilding year with
losing the seniors last year, but we started right back where we left off.”

The Patriot League Meet on Saturday Oct. 7 was a tough meet for Eaton, but through the 20 mph wind and the elevation change in Estes Park, the girls dashed their way to third place, while the boys earned eighth place in the varsity race. Mikayla Schwartz (20) said,
“It was a hard race, but we had our team supporting us making it less miserable.” The Patriot League includes all the teams and runners that will be running regionals on Thursday Oct. 19 and gives the Eaton runners an idea for their placings and competition in order to go to state. The meet at Monfort Park will be the hardest meet for Eaton this season, since the regionals meet only accepts the top four teams. Although the Patriot League Meet was somewhat discouraging due to weather, Eaton runners have an advantage over other teams because they attended the Wolverine Invite, where the girls took first and the boys took fifth. The course was exactly the same as the course for regionals, adding to Eaton’s overall preparation as the end of the season approaches.