The girls varsity cross country team placed third in the girls 4A race in regionals at Lynn Creek Park on Nov. 1. The top four placed teams advance to the state meet in Round Rock, TX on Nov. 8.

With a six year gap since the last state advancement, none of the varsity girls have competed at state as a team. Senior captain Kenna Roberts was very excited after finding out the results.

“I can’t even describe in words how pumped I am!” Roberts said. “I mean, we’re actually going to state!”

The team feels a sense of accomplishment due to the problems they have overcome together.

“It means a lot to the team to make it to state for the first time, and also to me, especially for my senior year,”senior Cassi Hargroves said. “All of the practices and meets leading up to the races that counted were obstacles that everyone had, but now here we are.”

After suffering several injuries throughout the year, sophomore Laina Sorensen ran regionals as her second race of the season.

“It was pretty hard being out for so long and not getting the same practice and training that everyone else gets,” Sorensen says. “But my team helped me, and now we’re all going to state together.”

Senior Annamarie Woolums was brought to tears by the prospect of finally reaching state.

“Going to state has been my dream ever since I’ve watched my brothers go to state,” Woolums says. “I’ve been trying really hard for three years, and I’ve cried after every year, but that was because I didn’t make it. Now I finally get to cry out of joy.”