Okoboji freshman Clare Eckard notched her first varsity cross country title, finishing the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Invitational ahead of the pack in 15:50. Eckard was the lone bright spot for the Pioneers girls team, which according to coach Brad Peter, is struggling with some midseason injuries. Jenna Johnson finished 29th for Okoboji. Hinton won the girls competition, followed by the hometown Eagles in second-place. HMS’s Brenna Sweeney was second behind Eckard individually.
On the boys side, Central Lyon/George-Little Rock blew away the competition with 29 team points, with South O’Brien in second at 93 and Okoboji third with 97. Three Pioneers finished in the top-15. Joe Hilsabeck ran a time of 18:06, good for seventh place, while Chris Albright was thirteenth, and Taylor Cody 14th. Ben Burburitz of Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn was the second-place runner.
