With the Heritage varsity cross country team season competing in the FHSAA State Championship Nov. 16-17, the team’s successful season has now come to an end. Following a successful season, the girls team placed ninth overall, while the boys team placed 27th in the state. Senior Ashely Fitzgerald placed second overall in the state, the highest ranking out of all the teams. Both the boys and girls teams had five students place in the top 200 runners.
In order to make it to states, the team had to first rank high enough in districts and regionals, held earlier in the month. Districts took place Nov. 2, with both the boys and girls teams placing fourth in the district. The top seven runners were eligible to move on to regionals, while the top five runners were scored as part of the team. Both the boys and girls team had six runners place in the top fifty.
Regionals took place Nov. 11, with both the boys and girls placing fifth in Region 4, with all the runners who competed placed in the top 90, qualifying both teams to compete in states. “It was exhilarating to finally be able to make it to states,” said senior Ricky Krissel.“We’ve been working for this since summer, so I’m really proud.” Varsity cross country conditioning began in July, and following Heritage’s participation in nine invitationals as well as districts, regionals and states, the season has now come to an end.
