Story by Cort Reynolds
Photos by Jamie Nygaard
OBETZ - Bluffton sophomore Erik Nygaard finished 82nd in a field of 183 runners at the Div. III state cross country meet on an unseasonably warm Saturday morning at Fortress Obetz in Obetz.

Nygaard finished the 3.1-mile course in a time of 17:14. He ran a 5:11 first mile and was 83rd at that point. He moved up to 76th with a 10:46.4 time at the two-mile mark, and ran 6:27.6 over the final 1.1 miles to drop back six spots. 

East Canton won the boys team state championship with 126 points. Summit Country Day finished a close second with 131 points, followed by Mt. Gilead (173).

Holgate and Canton Central Catholic ended up tied for fourth (200), while Columbus Grove came in sixth (208).

Thomas Caputo of Fredericktown won the boys Div. III individual crown in a time of 15:31.5.

Junior Braden Yingst of Perry finished ninth in 16:08.2. 

• Click here for the all-time Bluffton HS state cross country qualifiers list