MUSCODA — Neither Hillsboro cross country team could catch conference frontrunner Brookwood at last Thursday’s Scenic Bluffs Cross Country Championships at the Spring Valley Golf Course.
The Falcons ran to a sweep of the team titles with Hillsboro presenting the only real competition.
The Brookwood boys, led by an impressive third-place finish by Dylan Smith (16:29), held off Hillsboro 29–46, despite three top-10 finishes by the Tigers.
Seniors Noah Mayberry, Logan Rohn and Charles Strait each finished among the top nine to earn All-SBC honors.
Mayberry finished fifth at 17:00. Rohn was close behind at 17:05 for sixth-place, while Strait came in ninth at 17:49.
“Our third runner through seventh all stepped it up. Charles picked off Brookwood’s fifth for the first time this season,” said Hillsboro head coach Ben Leis. “Zach (O’Hair) ran in 18s for the first time earning him the honor of fastest freshman in the conference. Avery (Rueckheim) attacked the race. He started out fast and held on. He was able to beat some kids we were not planning on getting.
“Skyler (Fisher) started out more conservative, but pushed hard late and was able to finish one second behind Avery, and Mitch Parker had a huge PR. Mitch ran cross country all four years. This is the first time he has made the conference team. I’m very proud of how he has improved over the years.”
On the girls’ side, Brookwood and Hillsboro were the only two schools in the conference to field complete teams this year.
The Falcons had four of the top 10 runners compared to just two for Hillbsoro, to capture the team title by the final score of 22–35.
Sophomore Breanna Beaver finished fourth in 16:52 to lead the Tigers.
Junior Adrianna Reese placed eighth in 17:12.
“Although we were unable to reach our goal as team conference champions I was very proud of the effort and how many runners stepped it up,” said Leis. “Breanna Beaver had her best race of the season by far. By mid race she had herself in fourth running higher up in the race than she ever has before. I’m very proud of her for holding on and being disciplined enough to refuse to fall back.”
Twelve of Hillsboro's 13 runners at conference posted season-best times.
The Tigers will return to action Saturday at the 19-team WIAA Division 3 Westby Sectional. The girls’ race begins at 11:15 a.m. The boys’ race is set for 12:15 p.m.
