Despite the dreary, cold weather on Saturday, Oct. 18, the Bluffton Pirate girls' and boys' cross country teams performed well. 

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The meet took place at Ottawa Park. Jacob Barnett was the lone regional qualifier for the boys’ team. The girls’ team captured 4th place, moving them on to the regional tournament at Tiffin on Oct. 25.

During the boys’ district competition, Barnett ran the first half of the race in 9th position.  He finished strong with a PR (16th place, 17:45), and a spot in the regioinal race. He was followed by Nick Luke (29th place, PR 18:17), Darnell Boddie (33rd place, PR 18:26), Jack Marcum (PR 19:14), Noah Woodruff (20:59), Brice Metzger (21:00), and Jacob Spencer (22:18). 

Only the top four teams and top 16 individuals from each district qualify for regionals. The boys finished 6th as a team.

Next came the girls’ race. 

With a quick start, Coldwater’s Sarah Kanney led the entire race, followed by LCC’s Emily Sreenan. Bluffton’s Elizabeth Nisly ran a strong race juggling between 3rd and 4th position. 

She finished in 4th place with a PR of 20:11. Following Nisly, Sydney Hoff battled a pack of runners to finish in 12th place, tying her PR of 20:57. 

The Lady Pirate team then followed with each runner posting a PR as rain started to fall:  Ashley Schweyer (22nd place, 22:08), Mackenzie Braden (28th place, 22:27), Erica Sheehan (23:30), Amelia Heslep (25:45), and Mackayla Wilson (26:36). 

The team finish 4th behind Coldwater, St. Henry, and Columbus Grove.