Boys cross country team places fourth; Yoder places second in girls race.

The Hillcrest Raven boys cross country team placed fourth of eight full teams at the English Valleys Cross Country Invitational Tuesday in North English.  The meet was held in sunny conditions, but was preceded and followed by rain showers.  Juniors Micah Gerber and Jesse Blossom led the Ravens with ninth and eleventh place finishes.  The course was 4.45 kilometers, instead of the usual 5 kilometers, so times were quicker than normal.  Gerber finished in 17:44 and Blossom in 18:08.  Isaac Beachy was the third Raven finishing in twenty-third place with a time of 19:33.  Braden Hartsock made a large improvement from his previous races, finishing in 21:37 for thirty-ninth place.  Kyle Neuschwander was the fifth and the final team scorer for the Ravens finishing in fiftieth place in 22:32.  Jeremiah Danker was not far behind in fifty-third place and finished in 22:38.  Brady McWhirter of Pekin won the boys race in 15:47.  Pekin also won the boys team title with 29 points.    

Boys Individual Placings
Micah Gerber                          9^th               17:44
Jesse Blossom                      11^th             18:08
Isaac Beachy                          23^rd             19:33
Braden Hartsock                  39^th             21:37
Kyle Neuschwander            50^th             22:32
Jeremiah Danker                  53^rd             22:38

Team Scores
Pekin                                               29
HLV                                                   74
North Mahaska                            83
Hillcrest                                         106
Durant                                            127
Wilton                                              133
Highland                                         146
Belle Plaine                                    172

Freshman Marie Yoder again led the Lady Ravens cross country team.  This time it was at the hilly Knoll Ridge golf course in North English.  Runners from thirteen teams competed in the girl’s race.  Yoder toured the 2.77 mile course in 19:18 to place second behind Pekin’s Chole Glosser.  Glosser’s time was 18:12.  Third year team member Delaney Shaw was next for the Ravens, running the high school course for the first time in her career.  Shaw placed twenty-fifth in 23:58.  Freshman Brynna O’Rourke was the Raven’s third runner placing thirty-first in 25:35.  Pekin won the girls team title in a close battle with English Valleys.

Girls Individual Placings
Marie Yoder                               2^nd               19:18
Delaney Shaw                         25^th               23:58
Brynna O’Rourke                   31^st                25:35

Team Scores
Pekin                                                 26
English Valleys                              29
Durant                                              79

The cross country teams compete next in Burlington at the Tony Proctor Invitational Thursday, September 21.

Boys Complete Results
Girls Complete Results