Eighth-grader Nora Lucarelli had the best individual finish and led the Hermantown girls to the best team finish of any Northland entries at this year’s MSHSL state cross country meet.
Lucarelli ran to fifth place in Class AA and helped the Hawks to a ninth-place finish in the team standings as the meet had its first running at a brand-new location: Majestic Oaks Golf Club in Ham Lake.
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Lucarelli ran the 5 kilometers in 18 minutes, 23.4 seconds, putting her about 33.1 seconds behind state and Section 7AA champion Annika Hall of Chisago Lakes. Lucarelli made significant improvement upon a 39th-place finish last season.
Hermantown finished with 273 points in the team competition, which was won by Northfield. The Hawks’ next runner was seventh-grader Josie Niksich in 52nd overall.
Among Northland athletes competing as individuals, Grand Rapids senior Elaine Jackson also made strides, improving from 72nd last season to 17th in her last race.
Typically, All-State honors go to athletes in the top 25.
Duluth Denfeld sophomore Cadel Pohl was a solid 31st in 19:21, while Mylah Murfin of Rock Ridge (65th) and Sophia Schut of North Shore (69th) finished in the top half of a field...