Bontrager gets 1st victory running for Hillcrest

NORTH ENGLISH -- Hillcrest senior Leah Bontrager won her first cross-country race Tuesday running at the English Valleys Invitational on the Knoll Ridge Golf Course. Bontrager took her time by not going to the front immediately.

“She took the lead midway through the race and never looked back,” Hillcrest coach Martin Gingerich said. “The course is the most challenging the team usually sees.” Bontrager’s winning time was 24 minutes, 7 seconds over the hilly five-kilometers.

None of the twelve schools present had enough runners for a girls team score and only three boys teams did. English Valleys won the team title with WACO placing second and Hillcrest third.

Bryson Grove of English Valleys won the boys race in 18:33. Collin Miller was fourth and Ravens teammate Micah Gerber was seventh.

Hillcrest cross country teams compete next at the Center Point–Urbana Stormin’ Pointer Invitational Tuesday.

GIRLS

Hillcrest

1. Leah Bontrager 24:07

16. Morgyn Nafziger 29:35

21. Julia Boller 32:06

Highland

6. Katelyn Waters 26:46

WACO

10. Hannah Dennis 27:20

11. McKenzie Vradenburg 27:33

BOYS TEAM SCORES

1. English Valleys 31, 2. WACO 44, 3. Hillcrest 47

WACO

13. Mattias Luitjens 22:25

14. Jonah Egli 22:35

16. Kerian Luitjens 22:43

20. Isaac Rich 23:22

40. Deacon Bird 37:44

Hillcrest

4. Collin Miller 20:18

7. Micah Gerber 21:48

24. Jesse Blossom 24:04

34. Quang Huynh 27:20

39. Garrett Hurst 30:50

Highland

25. Jackson Schneider 24:28

32. Brendan Schnoebelen 26:33

38. Andrew Lana 29:58