NRHEG eighth grader Quinn VanMaldeghem missed a state tournament berth by one spot as the NRHEG cross country season came to an end in Blue Earth, Friday, Oct. 29.
Both cross country teams finished in 8th place at the section meet, with All-Section runners VanMaldeghem and senior Torri Vaale leading the girls and Devon Nelton and Jacob Karl leading the boys.
“Our team finished off our season with some great runs this year,” NRHEG head coach Miles Otstot said. “Overall this was a strong season from our kids and I am very proud of all our students accomplished this year. They worked very hard and it showed throughout the season with the times our kids ran.”
Both teams were highlighted by career best and season best races. Sam Christensen, Eric Arvis, VanMaldeghem, Vaale, Holly Bartness, and Annabelle Petsinger all finished with either their best timed runs of their career or season.
“A big thank you and congratulations to our seniors, Torri Vaale and Eric Arvis, who both ran their best ever times in their final cross country meets of their career,” coach Otstot said.
Individually for the girls: Quinn VanMaldeghem; 21:03, 9th place, All-section; Torri Vaale; 21:43, 11th place, All-section; Holly Bartness; 23:19, 32nd place; Annabelle Petsinger; 24:16, 46th place; Lexi McGannon; 26:20, 80th place.
Individually for the boys: Devon Nelton; 28:58, 29th place; Jacob Karl; 19:03, 32nd place; Sam Christensen; 20:01, 53rd place; Conner Nelson; 20:33, 61st place; Eric Arvis; 20:45, 67th place; Gavin Sletten; 20:49, 68th place.