Ranger harriers qualify for state

Abby Cutler is the  Region 5A girls individual champion after this week’s region  cross country meet at Hart Ranch. Cutler, the defending Class A state champion,  dominated the girls 5K run finishing with a time of 18:45.85, taking first place in the varsity race. Hill City’s Jazzla Hutto also finished in the top 10 with a time of 20:05.84.

Three Hill City boys finished in the  top 10 in the boys varsity 5K run. Luke Rupert placed fifth with a speed of 17:26.21, with Tate Grabow taking sixth place with a run time of 17:34.74. Leighton Aves came in eighth, running just shy of 18 minutes.

Both the girls and the boys qualified as a team to the Class A State Cross Country meet which takes place in Sioux Falls this weekend. A team needs to place in the top three team standings to qualify. Both teams placed third this season.

Hill City has sent boys individually to the state meet in recent years but this is the first time since 2007 the boys team has qualified.