Roth qualifies for state

JEWELL — When HLV-TC’s Peyton Roth crossed the finish line at the Class 1A South Hamilton state cross-country qualifying meet Thursday, he did not think he made it.

“The ninth and tenth place guys were right beside me and they passed me in the end,” Roth said.

Little did Roth know, he sneaked in, claiming the last individual qualifying spot by finishing 11th in a time of 17:55.

Usually in Class 1A, only the top 10 individuals qualify, but because there were only four individuals in the top 10, not on a qualifying team, Roth earned the fifth and final spot.

“I felt good from the start, and I knew it would be close,” Roth said.

The Warriors senior will get to finish his career at the state meet next Saturday.

“The goal is to have a lot of fun, get a personal best and leave it all out there with it being my last race,” Roth said on his goals.

The next area finisher in the boys’ race was BGM’s Carter Corona who finished 15th in a time of 18:17.

Iowa Valley’s Jeffrey Crawford finished 18th.

The top area finisher in the girls’ race was Montezuma’s Ellen Cook who finished 16th in a time of 22:26.