First Time Both Cross Country Teams Win NEC Titles Since 1997

The MHS cross country teams ran away with both first place titles at the Northeast Conference Meet in Webster on October 4. Coach Eric Townsend said, “The boys’ team was crowned NEC champs for the first time since 2011. The girls’ team won the NEC title for the third consecutive year. Milbank won both team titles for the first time since 1997. Anytime a team wins an NEC title it is a special day, but to win both in the same meet makes it very special.”

Each team had six runners in the top 20. They earned All-Conference honors and included Nick Batchelor – 1; Zippy Bock – 3; Alex Farrell – 11; Ben Harstad – 13; James Batchelor – 17; Nathan Loutsch – 18; Maurina Street – 3; Danica Schulte – 5; Taylor Thue – 10; Amaya Street – 11; Ashlynn O’Farrell – 14; and Maiah Brown – 15.

Townsend said, ” Next, we turn our focus on the Region 1A meet. We will battle nearly the same teams for both the region titles and qualifiers to the state meet. The top three teams and top 20 individuals qualify for the State A meet in Sioux Falls on October 20.”

The Bulldogs travel to Webster to the Region 1A meet on Thursday, October 11. The varsity girls start the meet at 3:30 p.m., followed by the varsity boys, and then the junior varsity.