Boys take 4th at State

Post date: Nov 03, 2008 1:58:14 AM

The Rufus King cross country team rounded out another very successful season yesterday at the state finals yesterday.  Hope Marshall competed in the girls' race, and the boys' team took fourth place.

Throughout the season, the boys' team had never been ranked above ninth in the state.  The boys' squad proved the predictions wrong, however, taking the fourth team spot in the WIAA Division I State Championship race, and giving a performance that would have won Division II or III.  David Stilin led the guys with his 16:13 18th place finish.  Nathaniel Sullivan came next in 39th place with a time of 16:38.  Josh Gilly finished his last race as a General in 16:54, earning 69th place.  Sebastian Van Oudenallen was able to PR on this grueling course, running an amazing time of 16:58 and taking 77th.  Eric Anderson was close behind in 90th, covering the five kilometers in 17:03.  Joe Morgan solidified his comeback with an incredible time of 17:09, a fourteen second PR.  Paul Bolanowski, who just missed earning a spot at the state meet last year, took 122nd, finishing in 17:19.  The boys' score came to 171 points, earning them fourth place, one spot better than last year's finish.

Unfortunately, Hope was not able to finish her race.  She was elbowed in the stomach by a competitor shortly after the mile mark.  She continued until almost the two mile mark before she had to stop.  Although she didn't cross the finish line, Hope gave an amazing performance at the state meet.

This meet concludes the 2008 cross country season.  Winter training now begins for the Generals already looking forward to the 2009 season and, hopefully, to another state meet.