STAFFORD— Joanna Strecker clocked in at 22:22 for a fifth place finish and helped lead the Ellinwood girls cross country team to a first place slot at Thursday’s cross country race at Stafford.

The Eagle girls recorded seven runners with top 20 finishes including five medaling in the top 10. Abbie Reichuber placed just a second behind Strecker for sixth place in 22:23 while Maddie Hayes posted a time of 22:32 for seventh place. Sarah Hammeke (8th-22:36) and Courtney Cook (10th-23:18) were the other top ten finishers while Cailey Carmen (11th-23:20) and Cassidy Schlessiger (16th-25:27) rounded out the top 20.

As a team Ellinwood scored 26 points for their first place finish out of four teams. Andale (43), Macksville (81) and Kiowa County (88) were the other schools in competition.

In the boys’ race only three runners competed for Ellinwood but two made top ten finishes. Jacob Kasselman placed sixth at 18:19 while Avery Pike finished a slot behind in seventh at 18:29. Peter Joslin was a top 20 finisher, 14th in 19:12.

Jayce Christiansen was the top runner in the JV boys race in a time of 20:30.

Middle school results:

7th grade girls
1- Astin Klepper 6:24
2- Hailey Troyer 6:41
5- Erin Hammeke 7:10
9- Gracie Schlessiger 7:59

7th grade boys
23- Marcus Fortcamp 7:27