Submitted Photo Rugby Panthers runners sprint from the starting line at the Class B East Regional Meet in Cooperstown Oct. 15. The Panthers placed first as a team in the girls’ 5,000-meter event, and third as a team in the boys’ 5,000-meter event.

The Rugby Panthers Cross Country team finished the Class B East Regional Meet in Cooperstown Oct. 15 with eight all-region runners, a first place girls’ varsity squad and a third place boys’ team.

The race took place on a partly sunny morning at the Cooperstown Country Club located in southeast-central North Dakota.

Rugby’s girls dominated the race, with five runners finishing in the top 20 over more than 180 participants. Top finisher for the 5,000-meter girls’ event was Amelia Shepard, who took second place with a personal best time of 19 minutes, 36 seconds.

On the boys’ side, three Rugby runners finished in the top 20 over more than 200 in the 5,000-meter event. Austin Dibble took the top time for Rugby, finishing in fifth in 17:16.

“We have three all-region runners with the boys, with Austin and Jenner (Johnson) and Holden (Jacobson), and we have five all-region with the girls, Amelia; Brooklyn (Bartsch): Hannah (Senechal); Evyn (Jacobson) and Keyara (Lundstrom),” Panthers Coach Bill Jansen said.

“It was good, overall,” he added, noting he was glad the Panthers had bested their third-place title from the 2021 regional meet.

“Of course there were some that wish they had run a little faster and I wish for them they had had better races,” he added.

“Overall, I feel good,” Dibble said of his finish. “I placed fifth and I was hoping to place higher.”

Dibble said he had his sights set on the state meet held in Jamestown Oct. 21.

“I’m excited individually, and hopefully, we’ll bring an all-state title back to Rugby and hopefully, on the team side, we can bring back a fifth place or higher and bring a plaque back to RHS,” he said.

Shepard clutched her side as she crossed the finish line seven seconds behind Hatton/Northwood/Larimore’s Jenna Soine for second place.

“I tried pushing through it,” she said of the side ache.

“The weather was pretty nice,” she added. “The race was a competition for sure.”

Shepard said she was pleased with her finish time, adding she had set a personal record, which runners refer to as a PR. “I improved again,” she said. “Jenna gave me a run for it.”

“If I run like I did today, I’ll do just as good at state,” she added.

The Panthers took other top awards home from Cooperstown. Dibble was nominated for Outstanding Senior Athlete/Men’s East Region and Rugby’s Kendyl Hager received a nomination for Outstanding Senior Athlete/Women’s East Region.

The region named Jansen Coach of the Year for the girls’ team.

Results from the Class B East Regional Meet are:

Varsity girls’ 5,000-meters: Amelia Shepard, second place, all-region, 19:36; Hannah Senechal, fourth place, all-region, 20:01; Brooklyn Bartsch, fifth place, all-region, 20:09; Evyn Jacobson, 13th place, all-region, 20:47; Keyara Lundstrom, 19th place, all-region, 21:01; Jaelyn Lunde, 22nd place, 21:16; Mauvlyn Kirchofner, 23rd place, 21:23; Mya McNeff, 33rd place, 21:51; Ashlyn Dibble, 34th place, 21:53; Mikaylee Livedalen, 45th place, 22:19; Kendyl Hager, 52nd place, 22:29; Kinsey Arnston, 86th place, 23:19; Jesse Wolf, 109th place, 24:07; Livvy Johnson, 125th place, 25:08; Tressa Arnston, 132nd place, 25:20; Reagan Hager, 137th place, 25:26; Ava Wurgler, 141st place, 25:39; Rylah Hager, 145th place, 25:46; Jaclyn Duchscher, 185th place, 31:53.

Varsity boys’ 5,000-meters: Austin Dibble, fifth place, all-region, 17:16; Jenner Johnson, 18th place, all-region, 18:12; Holdyn Jacobson, 20th place, all-region, 18:14; Brayden Green, 32nd place, 18:45; Andrew Duchscher, 38th place, 19:01; Gunnar Larson, 46th place, 19:10; Austin Ducscher, 50th place, 19:23; Maddex Kirchofner, 55th place, 19:28; Connor Klein, 82nd place, 20:11; Wyatt Oppen, 90th place, 20:27; Damien Herman, 147th place, 22:12; Sawyer Brossart, 162nd place, 22:44; Dane Whorley, 176th place, 23:04; Liam Wurgler, 202nd place, 24:17; Kallen Azure, 205th place, 24:29.