Hutchinson CC Sports Information

IOLA – Freshman Laura Avila posted the seventh-best 5,000-meter time in Hutchinson Community College women's cross country history to lead the seventh-ranked Blue Dragons to a third-place finish on Saturday at the Firestarter Classic.

Avila finished second overall with a time of 19:09.68, which is No. 7 on the Blue Dragons' women's cross country chart at 5,000 meters.

The Blue Dragons had a strong showing without All-American Serenity Larson, who didn't race on Saturday. Hutchinson had four runners finish in the Top 20 as the Blue Dragons finished behind Cowley and Dodge City in the team standings. Cowley won with 43 points. Dodge City was second with 53 and the Blue Dragons scored 58 points.

Freshman Jordyn Picolet just missed her 5K PR by 0.8 seconds with an 11th-place time of 20:02.13.

Right behind Picolet was sophomore Taylor Hoskinson, who finished 12th in a time of 20:05.81.

Sophomore Ellie Van Zelfden ran a PR time of 20:18.06 for 5,000 meters. She placed 17th overall.

Sophomore Lauren Aden had her career-best placing for the Blue Dragons, finishing 21st with a time of 20:25.10.

Freshman Abigail Grantham was 34th with a time of 21:48.95. Freshman Chloe Inskeep was 57th with a time of 23:50.30

Next up for the Blue Dragons will be the Region VI Cross Country Championship, which will be contested on the same course it ran on Saturday at Creekside Golf Course in Iola.