Hillcrest Ravens run at Knoll Ridge

The Hillcrest Ravens boys cross country team placed seventh in the eight team field at the thirty-third annual English Valleys Cross Country Invitational Tuesday at Knoll Ridge golf course in North English. There were also five schools with incomplete teams. Knoll Ridge is the hilliest course the teams see. Colby Harris again led the Ravens like he did last week at Fairfield. This time he placed twenty-second with a time of 22:33. Owen Swartzendruber continues to move up in the team’s ranks. He was number two for the Ravens placing thirty-fifth in 24:30. Jesse Slater was one place back finishing in 24:44. Toby Chen had his fastest time of the year on the most challenging course. He ran the 5K in 25:15 to place thirty-ninth. Collin Miller rounded out the scoring placing forty-fifth in 26:19. That is nearly three minutes faster than time on this course last year. Wapello won the team title while Zach Hein of Wilton was the individual titlist finishing in 19:19.

Boys			Team Scores
Individual Placings			Wapello	52
Colby Harris	22^nd	22:33	Durant	62
Owen Swartzendruber	35^th	24:30	Wilton	81
Jesse Slater	36^th	24:44	Lone Tree	112
Tobias Chen	39^th	25:15	North Mahaska	124
Collin Miller	45^th	26:19	Sigourney	129
			Hillcrest Academy	142
			Highland	186

The Hillcrest Ravens girls team placed two in the top ten at the English Valleys Invitational Tuesday at Knoll Ridge Golf Course. Both Leah Bontrager and Sarena Gerber took a full minute off their times on this course last year. Bontrager placed fourth in 23:37 and Gerber placed tenth in 25:50. Taryn Leichty was the team’s third runner placing thirty-fourth in 30:31. Julia Boller was one minute back in thirty-seventh place. Ainsley Shaw completed the team score placing fifty-ninth in 44:48. As a team the Ravens placed sixth in the seven team field. Hillcrest tied with Wilton. Each team scored 114 points. The top five finishers from each team score. Ties are broken by the teams’ sixth runner. Wilton had six runners which won them fifth place. Montezuma won the team title with 46 points, Cheyenne Shaw of North Mahaska dominated the race much like she has the last two years. She finished in 21:52.

The cross country teams compete next at the Center Point – Urbana Stormin’ Pointer Invitational Tuesday, September 25.

Girls			Team Scores
Individual Placings			Montezuma	46
Leah Bontrager	4th	23:37	BGM	74
Sarena Gerber	10th	25:50	Highland	94
Taryn Leichty	34th	30:31	North Mahaska	96
Julia Boller	37th	31:34	Wilton	114
Ainsley Shaw	59th	44:48	Hillcrest Academy	114
			Wapello	129