The Marion High School boys’ cross-country team placed third Saturday at 3A regional cross-country at Southeast of Saline High School. They will advance to state cross-country Saturday at Rim Rock Farm, rural Lawrence.

The boys had four runners in the top 20 of the race. Jordan Hett placed third in the 5-kilometer race with a time of 17 minutes, 9 seconds. Patrick McCarty placed 12th at 18:29. Timothy Knolla placed 14th at 18:40. Jacob Cope placed 19th at 18:56.

The Warriors’ final three runners finished close together, as well. Clark Kroupa placed 53rd at 21:20, Quinton Hett placed 61st at 21:51, and Jared Hague finished 64th at 21:55.

“I think they ran well,” coach Rebecca Hofer said of the team.

Nobody ran a personal best, but many of the runners finished strong.

“It was a really tough regional because there were a lot of good teams,” Hofer said.

There were 16 schools represented at regionals, and 10 had a full team. The Warriors earned 84 points to finish behind Trinity Catholic of Hutchinson and Southeast of Saline. The top three teams advance to state, as well as the top 10 individuals.

The state cross-country race for 3A boys is scheduled to begin at noon Saturday at Rim Rock Farm, 2276 Burnett Lane, Lawrence. Rim Rock Farm, where the University of Kansas has its home cross-country meets, is a tough course with long, steep hills, Hofer said.

Girls

McKenzee Remmers placed 34th in the girls’ 4-kilometer race with a time of 18:31. Shyla Harris finished 53rd at 20:25.