Bontrager, Thomann punch tickets to state cross country

Nick Moffitt
Posted 10/24/19

Two area runners, Hillcrest Academy sophomore Leah Bontrager and Highland junior Madison Thomann are headed back to the state cross country meet in Class 1A. 

Bontrager finished in sixth place …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Bontrager, Thomann punch tickets to state cross country

Posted

Two area runners, Hillcrest Academy sophomore Leah Bontrager and Highland junior Madison Thomann are headed back to the state cross country meet in Class 1A. 

Bontrager finished in sixth place with a time of 21:19.89. Her race strategy involves running as even as possible and staying cool and collected. It paid off as Bontrager passed about 30 runners over the last two miles of the race to earn a spot at state. 

"It is really tempting to go out faster and really hard to hold back, but that's what I've been practicing and I know it is important to pull it back and pace to where I can feel good," Bontrager said. 

The Hillcrest Academy sophomore has now qualified in both of her cross country seasons. She placed 72nd in Class 1A last season, running 22:16 at the state meet. Bontrager said after a year of experience, she feels ready for another exciting year at the state meet. 

"I'm prepared now for how many people are there, it gets pretty packed," she said. 

Thomann was right behind Bontrager, finishing seventh in 21:20.20. It was 12 seconds faster than her state-qualifying time on the same course last season. 

"It was pretty exciting, my big goal all year was to make it to state. So it was just exciting," Thomann said. 

She said she checked off all of her goals for the day as far as pacing, race time and finishing spot went. 

She finished 99th at last year's Class 1A meet. This marks the third straight year that the Highland girls cross country team has sent a representative to the state meet.

Girls results: 

Boys results: