Marion cross-country runner Heidi Grimmett is making a strong case to run against the state’s best.

Grimmett placed third during last week’s Heart of America meet at Trinity Catholic in Hutchinson.

The performance marked her sixth race with a top-10 finish, and her fifth where she was top three.

Marion’s other runners competed well together, finishing near one another on both occasions.

None recorded personal bests, but all three girls and five boys placed in the top 50 of their respective races.

Alfwenna Meyer placed 42nd, with Bethany Grimmett just behind in 43rd. The two seniors have finished within five places of one another in every race this season.

On the boys’ side, Tristen Dye placed 28th. He was tightly followed by teammates, with all four finishing within 20 spots of Dye. Christopher Berry took 37th, with Colton Boudreaux in 39th, Nathan Shields 43rd, and Hayden Mendoza 48th.

While none of them set new bests, all five finished in less than 23:30.

Boys finishers: Tristen Dye, 28th, 21:03.6; Christopher Berry, 37th, 21:43.3; Colton Boudreaux, 39th, 21:57.3; Nathan Shields, 43rd, 22:35.9; Hayden Mendoza, 48th, 23:21.3.

Girls finishers: H. Grimmett, 3rd, 21:52.8; Alfwenna Meyer, 42nd, 29:07.4; B. Grimmett, 29:09.4.