The Bluffton HIgh School boys cross country team finished a strong seventh out of 23 teams in the Div. III regional meet at Tiffin's Hedges-Boyer Park Saturday, October 30, to qualify for the state meet. (See regional boys team scores at bottom of story.)

Pirate junior Landon Armstrong came in seventh place and classmate Erik Nygaard was right behind him in eighth place out of 184 runners, advancing Bluffton boys to the state competition. Armstrong finished in a time of 16:54, with Nygaard right behind him at 16:56.9.

In high school girls competition, freshman June Essinger finished a solid 37th amid a field of 181 female runners with a time of 21:00.4.

Boys cross country meet

The top seven teams and top 28 individuals qualified for the state meet.

Pirate junior Sam Derstine came across the finish line 82nd in a time of 18:38.3. Sophomore Liam Jordan ended up 101st in 18:56.2. 

Senior Trey Boblitt finished two spots behind him in 103rd with a time of 18:57.5 to round out the Pirate scorers. 

Sophomore John Yoder crossed the line 149th in 19:55.9. Junior Isaiah Conley finished 180th in 22:28.1.

Perry senior Braden Yingst won the boys race in 16:11.2. 

Columbus Grove won the boys regional team title with 108 points. Holgate was second with 121, while Bluffton (253) ended up seventh as the last state-qualifying team.

The state meet Saturday, November 6 is in central Ohio at Memorial Park and Fortress Obetz in Obetz. The Div. III boys race is set for 10 a.m.

Girls cross country meet

Senior Hope Oelkrug of Liberty Center won the girls race in 18:49.8.

Minster won the girls regional team title with 43 points. Liberty Center finished second with 72 points.

Regional Boys Team Scores:

1 Columbus Grove 108 points

2 Holgate 121 

3 St. Paul 141 

4 Ottawa Hills 181

5 Minster 208 

6 New Riegel 228 

7 Bluffton 253  1:30:23 team total 18:05 average per runner

8 Seneca East 266

9 New Bremen 268

10 Lincolnview 288

11 Archbold 304

12 New London 304

13 Ashland Crestview 307

14 Fairview 315

15 Marion Local 353

16 Defiance Tinora 399

17 Liberty Center 414

18 Van Buren 436

19 Fayette 445

20 Carey 474

21 Gibsonburg 512

22 Old Fort 518

23 Parkway 547