By Jacob Lough and TJ Brady

With a time of 16:18.7, junior Ian Hunter finished his cross country season placing 23rd in the state meet.

Hunter was the only North Central runner to advance to state this season. Hunter and two others advanced individually to semi state when the team did not advance out as a whole at the regionals meet.

The meet was unseasonably warm with the temperature getting close to 80. It was also very windy which did not help especially in the finish and start. Hunter powered through anyway as he fought to stay in the front pack while Oldenburg Academy Curt Eckstein and Hamilton Southeastern High School Gable Fendel runners blazed the trail. Hunter was very proud of himself and believes he did the best that he could.

The course is one of the toughest in the state causing times to be slower. Although in semi state Hunter ran his personal best of 15:32, which ranks Hunter as the number seven fastest all time runner at North Central. Hunter may have gotten 23rd at state, but he tied for the tenth fastest time in Indiana this year.

Next year the team is looking forward to try to make it out of regionals as a team and advance to state. Hunter will be the fastest senior next year while a strong upper classmen varsity follows him as they look to advance further.