Milford knew going in both teams could qualify for state. The girls’ race looked like it would be closer on paper, Coach Jake Kment said.
“In the team race, we thought it was going to be a tight race for the third and final qualifying spot,” he said. “In the end, it was. However, it was not in question for us because we ended up winning the entire meet.”
The Milford girls beat No. 2 Adams Central by eight points.
“When making team goals for this race, we made our goal to finish second. I should have had more confidence because they ended up exceeding that goal,” Kment said.
Freshman Macie Carter, one of four freshmen competing on the girls’ team and five overall, was the district champion, finishing in 19:49.2.
Kment said she took control from the start and dominated, winning by over a minute.
Behind Carter, a group of three separated from the pack, but the next pack included Elsa Schweitzer and Abby Crabtree. Schwetizer finished seventh with a personal best time and Crabtree was 10th.
Schweitzer and Crabtree, a junior and a sophomore, are the veterans on the girls’ team, Kment said.
Addelynn Gurnsey, another freshman, earned an individual qualifying nod by placing 15th. Cayla Adams and Olivia Augustyn, also both freshmen, rounded out the team.
The boys’ raced looked a little less crowded, but the battle for the title would come down to Milford and Wilber-Clatonia, Kment said.
Senior Avery Carter took control of the race early and didn’t look back, winning in 16:59.2 – over 40 seconds faster than second place.
Sylus Rakow picked up a fourth-place finish in the best race of his career, Kment said.
Easton Sample, Jonny Kohout and Aiden Verwey were in a big group of about a dozen runners a little further back.
“In the end, it was a chaotic finish, with Aiden finishing 12th, Easton finishing 15th and Jonny finishing 17th,” Kment said.
Verwey’s time was a personal best.
“I was very proud of how those boys battled in that pack. Every time the pack tried to get away from them, they did not settle and willed themselves to stay in the pack,” Kment said.
Yoan Montero rounded out the boys’ team.
“Overall, it was an incredible day,” Kment said. “The runners rose to the occasion in a big way and continued our tradition of strong district finishes.”
The Class C state meet will be Friday, Oct. 24, at the Kearney Country Club. Class C girls run at 12:30 p.m., with the boys to run at 1:30 p.m.
