Three VHS runners qualify for state meet

Three VHS runners qualify for state meet By Parker Knox
Sports Writer Three runners have earned the right to wear the colors of Vermillion High School in Saturdayâ�?�?s state cross-country meet at Huron. Senior Brad Orr placed 18th in the boysâ�?�? varsity race at the Region 3A meet in Lennox Friday in a time of 18:11. Placing within the top 20 runners is the requirement for an individual to qualify for state. In the girlsâ�?�? varsity race a pair of eighth graders, Blair Gilkyson and Morgan Hower, placed sixth and 20th, respectively, to earn their spots in the state meet. Gilkyson finished in 15:36, and Howerâ�?�?s time was 16:13. â�?�?I am very excited for Blair, Morgan and Brad,â�? said coach Kelly Fischbach. â�?�?It is quite an accomplishment to qualify for the state meet.â�? The VHS girlsâ�?�? team placed fifth with 85 points while the boysâ�?�? varsity placed eighth with 104 points. â�?�?It was a bit disappointing to not qualify the whole team, but things just didnâ�?�?t work out for us,â�? Fischbach added. â�?�?Our young kids performed extremely well, which really looks good for the future.â�? Every VHS cross-country runner except seniors Orr and J.R. Moore returns next year. Another Vermillion highlight Friday was a one-two finish by Alex Card and Tanner Anderson, respectively, in the boysâ�?�? junior varsity event. Other Vermillion results at the regional meet: Boysâ�?�? varsity: Bennett Johnson, 24th, 18:29. Robert Osterberg, 33rd, 19:00. Carson Sullivan, 37th, 19:17. Matt Hirsch, 39th, 19:30. J.R. Moore, 45th, 19:41. Girlsâ�?�? varsity: Beth Szymonski, 32nd, 16:54. Ashley Brunick, 35th, 17:02. Sophie Nehlich-Arobba, 42nd, 17:09. Hannah Nehlich-Arobba, 44th, 17:20. Boysâ�?�? JV: Alex Card, first, 14:18. Tanner Anderson, second, 14:28. Nathan Ford, 15th, 15:50. Ryun Fischbach, 17th, 15:56. SiChuong Huang, 19th, 16:05. Kevin Helenurm, 34th, 17:25. Joe Swanson, 46th, 18:58. Girlsâ�?�? JV: Jade Fostvedt, sixth, 17:42. Cassie Donohoe, 14th, 18:23. Caitlin Britten, 44th, 22:25.